Police: Officers were in danger before shooting, killing teen
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A 15-year-old was shot and killed by police late Sunday night on the northeast side of Indianapolis after, according to police, officers’ lives were in danger.
Family members identified the shooting victim as 15-year-old Andre Green.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said the shooting happened just after 11 p.m. They said officers noticed a car near East 30th Street and North Chester Avenue that matched the description of a vehicle that had been carjacked in the 3100 block of Thompkins Square Court earlier that evening.
Officers say the suspects inside the car were seen shooting at people when they stole it.
Investigators say officers first followed the car at a safe distance. The car turned down a dead end near 34th Street and Butler Avenue, and that’s when they say the driver accelerated and tried to do a U-turn. Officers then attempted to stop the car, when the driver rammed a police vehicle on the driver’s side. Multiple passengers then exited the car and ran westbound.
Police say the driver refused to get out of the vehicle and almost hit an officer with the car. They said the suspect began turning the wheel of the car toward the officers and accelerated. At that time three officers fired their weapons at the driver, according to IMPD.
They say the suspect then got out of the car armed with a handgun and collapsed by the driver’s side door. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pending an investigation, officials would not say whether or not the shooting victim pointed the handgun at officers. Police said Green was wearing an ankle bracelet at the time of the shooting and had a troubled history.
Police officials said at a Monday afternoon press conference that there is no known video of the incident. According to police, officers were not wearing body cameras and the shooting was not captured on dash cam video. No one has come forward with cell phone video, police said.
“The officers’ lives… we feel they were in danger,” IMPD Assistant Chief Lloyd Crowe said Monday.
IMPD is still looking for the other passengers who ran from the car. There is no active search, but they were asking them to come forward.
“Unfortunately, nobody wins in this situation,” said IMPD Officer Chris Wilburn. “The officers are traumatized, and there’s going to be a subsequent investigation, of course, and a family is going to get the very tragic news that their teenager is deceased.”
Family members who spoke to 24-Hour News 8 pleaded for the other people in the car to come forward with information.
“There was someone else in the car with him,” said Malonda Lamb, who said she is victim Andre Green’s cousin. “We don’t know who else was in the car with him, but we’re asking you, could you please come forward? Because you saw. You saw something. You saw them shoot him, you saw them chase him, you saw something. Please come forward.”
Green’s sister said they’d hoped her brother would return to Arsenal Tech for school on Monday morning.
“He would just be there to brighten up your day. He was a good person,” said Andre’s sister, Tericka Jackson.
A spokesperson said the three officers involved are believed to be veterans of the department.
The officers involved will be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. This is a standard IMPD procedure following a police involved shooting.
Officials say if you have any information on the passengers who ran from the scene, call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.
In the meantime, James Wilson is extending an olive branch to troubled teens. Wilson operates Circle Up Indy. His goal is to give teenagers an alternative to trouble making behavior.
On Saturday, Wilson will host a Peace Festival at IPS School #51 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“We do not have the answer to everything but we fight to have the answers to somethings,” said Wilson.
This year, Wilson is looking to exceed attendance record of 500 people, and more than 60 vendors.
