INDIANAPOLIS — A law enforcement expert tells 13News that police bodycam video shows officers were justified in a Sept. 22 shooting that killed a man and injured a pregnant woman near Lucas Oil Stadium.
We talked to the woman's family Wednesday, who feels otherwise.
In the video, shots were fired by 27-year-old Ricktez Williams in the passenger seat of a car stopped by police on Missouri Street, near Lucas Oil Stadium. In slow motion, you can see Williams stick his arm out of the window and flashes from his gun. Three officers in the SUV returned fire.
Police say on that Friday night, covert robbery detectives were already investigating Ricktez. They saw him go into a Dollar General store and walk out with a bag. He allegedly got into a silver Buick LeSabre, driven by Eriana Morris. Police went inside, confirmed the store had just been robbed and began their pursuit.
Ten minutes later, police used a grappler device to stop the car, and the shootout began. Former FBI agent and federal prosecutor M. Quentin Williams reviewed the video.
"It was a good shoot because there was the fear of deadly force being used against officers, and it was reasonable," M. Quentin said. "And so in order to stop that threat, the officers did what they had to do."
"Officers should have returned fire, and they did," M. Quentin continued. "When the occupants of the vehicle then started to flee, from what I understand, without the weapon, it did not change the circumstances for the officers because the officers still could have and did reasonably believe that they might have deadly force used against them."
Ricktez and Morris got out the car and ran. That's when officers fired more shots. Ricktez died. Morris was shot six times but survived.
Morris is pregnant with Ricktez's child, due next month.
Morris' father told 13News he doesn't believe police were justified to shoot as the suspects ran away with the gun still in the car.
Morris is charged with armed robbery and was released from jail Nov. 14 after posting a $1,000 cash bond. Her next court hearing is Nov. 28.