INDIANAPOLIS — There was not an empty seat in the courtroom as IMPD officer Thomas Mangan testified in the trial of Mylik Hill Wednesday.
Mangan spoke in a low, raspy whisper after he was shot in the throat about two years ago. Hill is accused of shooting the officer as he was fleeing police on Feb. 27, 2022. He is charged with attempting to murder Mangan and another IMPD officer who returned fire, wounding Hill.
Mangan, working his 14th shift as a probation officer with IMPD, described responding to a crash involving a possibly intoxicated driver who was seen exposing himself. Mangan and the field training officer he was riding with approached the car that was suspected in the hit-and-run.
Mangan described Hill emerging from that car and taking off in between houses. Mangan said he chased after Hill and attempted to tackle him when he was shot at close range.
"Did you observe anything as you try to tackle him?" asked the prosecuting attorney. "A turn of his shoulders, a dark object and a flash of light," responded Mangan.
Hill also had a chance to question the man he's accused of trying to murder during cross-examination. Hill is acting as his own defense attorney.
Mangan said he did not understand or did not recall a majority of Hill's questions during cross-examination.
Mangan was hit in the neck with gunfire and said the shot destroyed his voice box. He also suffered nerve damage in his right eye, right arm and right hand. Mangan also said he suffered a fracture in his neck. He testified that he has trouble focusing and looking at lights.
Judge Angela Davis said the trial will come to an end Thursday.