INDIANAPOLIS — A Metro Police officer was injured early Sunday when his gun discharged during a struggle with a person undergoing a mental crisis in a southeast side neighborhood.
The officer is reported to be in good condition after sustaining what is described as a graze wound from a gunshot.
The shooting occurred just after 2 a.m. Sunday in the 6500 block of Knobstone Way, near Southeastern Avenue and Interstate 465 in Franklin Township.
Officers were responding to an emotional crisis call before the struggle ensued.
Responding officers were told that the man was having suicidal thoughts. When they arrived at the home, they contacted the man and his family, and according to IMPD, officers used their mental health and de-escalation training while speaking with the man.
Officers were waiting for an ambulance to transport the man to the hospital for evaluation when the man "unprovoked, lunged at the officer and grabbed the officer’s gun, which was holstered," IMPD reported.
During the struggle for the gun, the gun went off, injuring the man's finger and the officer's leg. The bullet didn't penetrate the officer's skin, according to IMPD.
After the struggle, the man ran from police but was apprehended by other officers.
The injured officer, whose name has not been shared by IMPD, was transported to an area hospital but has since been released and is at home with his family.
The who allegedly grabbed for the gun was also taken to the hospital for treatment of a minor injury. As of Sunday morning, he's still in the hospital.
He's been preliminarily charged with battery on a police officer, criminal recklessness, disarming a law enforcement officer and resisting law enforcement.
The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is investigating with the help of the Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency.
Authorities say officers were wearing body-worn cameras that were activated at the time of the incident.