INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD has released edited video of an officer fatally shooting and killing a man earlier in August.
The video shows the moments leading up to the officer fatally shooting 49-year-old Gary Dwayne Harrell as he was running from police following a traffic stop on the city's near northeast side.
The officer was identified as 28-year veteran Douglas Correll.
WARNING: The video released by IMPD has graphic images and language. Those interested in viewing it can find it here.
Around 9:40 a.m. on Aug. 3, police said Correll tried to stop a car for reckless driving at East 34th Street and North Parker Avenue, near North Keystone Avenue.
IMPD said the driver, later identified as Harrell, got out of the car, then got back in, before getting out again and running.
According to IMPD, Correll chased after Harrell and said Harrell had a gun in his right hand and a cellphone in his left hand.
From the video released by police, Harrell can be seen running directly away from the officer when Correll can be heard saying, "Stop it! Drop it!" Within a second of saying that, and with Harrell's back to the officer and looking away from the officer, Correll fired two shots and Harrell was hit once.
IMPD claims a second officer immediately began first aid on Harrell, but from the edited video released, it is unclear how much time actually passed after Harrell was shot. Harrell was taken to a hospital in critical condition but died from his injuries.
According to IMPD, officers found the gun Harrell was carrying where he dropped it in the driveway after being shot.
Police confirmed no officers were injured or anyone else other than the suspect.
"Why did it have to end this way? What was the reason for that?" said Rev. Antonio Alexander, of Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis. "Could it have been done differently? What are the policies and procedures and processes that are in place that maybe need to be revised so that this does not happen to another family?"
"The biggest question folks are going to have is, 'Why did he have to shoot?'" Alexander added. "Folks will look at it from the standpoint of he was running away, and he was not posing an imminent threat, and that will be the biggest question."
The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene to conduct the criminal investigation.
A separate administrative investigation is being conducted by IMPD Internal Affairs.
Correll had been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shooting investigations.
"I think this community would find value in the chief speaking to the incident that's happening here in Indianapolis," Alexander said.
A statement from the attorney for the family of Harrell reads, in part:
"Gary Harrell made a poor choice on August 3, 2023 shortly after he was pulled over by IMPD Officer Douglas Correll on suspicion of reckless driving, a misdemeanor. He grabbed his cell phone and handgun and ‘attempted’ to run away from Officer Correll. Gary suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident years before, and he was not capable of moving very quickly. So, as seen in the video, he was stumbling away from Officer Correll, as opposed to sprinting. Although Gary made a poor choice that morning, it should not have cost him his life. What is undisputed from the video is that Gary had his back to Correll as he moved away from him. Gary never assaulted, or even touched, Correll. Officer Correll gave one command—‘Stop! Drop it!’—but failed to give Gary any time to comply before gunning him down."
The family claims this is not the first time officer Correll has been accused of excessive force against a Black man. They said that in 2020, the City of Indianapolis paid $380,000 to settle the claim of a man who alleged Correll falsely arrested and battered him. That man was allegedly a shooting victim who had called 911. Correll's actions allegedly ruptured the man's spleen.
IMPD Chief Randal Taylor shared the following statement with 13News:
"This release comes as a part of my commitment to transparency, and with the recognition of the tragic loss of Mr. Harrell and the lives impacted by this incident, including officers.
It is crucial to have a thorough and complete investigation of what occurred during this incident before we come to any conclusions. At this point, this investigation is incomplete. I am asking for the public’s patience and trust as we investigate this thoroughly. My prayers remain with all involved."
A statement was released Wednesday afternoon by the attorneys for Officer Correll. In it, it says Correll's thoughts go out to the Harrell family. The statement goes on to read, in part:
We look forward to the investigation revealing exactly what information was known to the officer at the time, precisely what actions Mr. Harrell took, and all actions taken by Officer Correll pursuant to his training and experience. Like all other significant decisions, the review of an incident like this cannot be rushed, and should rise and fall based upon a detailed review of the totality of circumstances.