INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — IMPD is investigating after a burglary suspect was shot and killed after firing rounds at officers on the city's north side Thursday morning.
The Marion County Coroner's Office has identified the suspect as 19-year-old McHale Rose.
It happened just after 1:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of Woodglen Drive, near 79th Street and Township Line Road. Officers had gone to the scene for an investigation into an attempted burglary at an apartment, according to IMPD.
Police said four officers, ranging in experience from two to 39 years, responded to the scene. An IMPD spokesperson said the suspect fired a rifle at the officers, and they fired back. Rose died as a result. No officers were injured.
At a news conference Thursday, IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said it appears the incident may have started as an ambush attempt by the suspect.
Taylor said the initial 911 call was traced back to the Rose's phone, leading investigators to believe he was trying to ambush police. Taylor could not confirm whether the incident was connected to a fatal officer-involved shooting on the northwest side earlier Wednesday.
Anyone with information about this incident should call the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
Summary of events according to IMPD
- On May 7th, 2020 at approximately 01:30 AM officers of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched 2200 Woodglen Drive to a burglary in progress.
- Caller stated two unknown subjects were trying to break into residence. A cell phone was recovered from the scene. It was later confirmed to be the same one used to call 9-1-1 and belonged to the suspect.
- Four veteran officers arrived on scene and approached the residence together.
- The officers encountered a male outside of the dispatched address.
- The male began firing at officers with a rifle. Nearby cell phone video confirms officers gave repeated and clear commands to the male to move away from the rifle. The video also shows the individual pointing the rifle in the direction of the officers. Witness statements and evidence from the scene also indicate that shots were fired from the rifle.
- The four officers returned fire, striking the male.
- IEMS arrived and pronounced the male, later identified as McHale Rose, deceased on scene. Officers located a rifle near him at the scene, which was collected as evidence.
- No officers were injured in the incident.
- It does not appear at this time that Mr. Rose had any connection to the address police were called to from his phone. There was no evidence of a burglary or attempted burglary. Preliminary evidence indicates the 911 call may have been made to lure officers into an ambush-style attack.
- The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team is handling the criminal investigation. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is also involved in the investigation.
- An Internal Affairs investigation is also ongoing.
- The four involved officers are currently off work on administrative leave as is standard procedure in these types of incidents.