INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Metro Police released an edited video from an incident where a police officer shot and killed a man who was reportedly holding a woman hostage inside the cab of a semi Nov. 30.
Officers responded to a 911 call around 7:20 p.m. from an employee at a McDonald's after a customer told them they heard a woman calling for help from the cab of a white semi in the 4900 block of Knights Way, near Interstate 69 and Interstate 465 on the southwest side.
When officers arrived, a witness directed them to the semi where they had heard the screams coming from.
Officers knocked on the truck but said the driver, 60-year-old Lamont Bland, was in the sleeper cabin. Officers said Bland would look through a curtain at them, but he would then go back into the sleeper cabin.
IMPD claims an officer then put their ear up against the side of the cabin and could hear a woman screaming.
Officers called for Bland to open the door, but they said he did not respond. An officer then used a baton to break out a window.
Bland can be heard saying on the video, "Stop it. I've got a knife to her throat."
When officers tried to talk to Bland, he can be heard on the video saying, "I'm going to kill her right now," and then saying, "I ain't got nothing to lose."
The woman can be heard stating that she was bleeding, that he cut her and asking for help.
As officers continued talking with Bland, he stated, "I'm gonna cut her throat."
The officer, later identified as 26-year veteran Lt. Brandon Mills, fired a shot, striking Bland, who was pronounced dead inside the truck.
WARNING: The video contains graphic images and language that some might find disturbing. Those wishing to view the video can find it here.
The woman received medical attention at the scene for several lacerations and was taken to the IMPD Homicide Office to be interviewed about what happened. Officers found a razor blade with blood on it inside the sleeping compartment of the cab.
In an update Dec. 4, IMPD said "the victim told detectives that before intervention from officers, the suspect pulled her into the cabin of the semi-truck, held her against her will there for hours and the suspect claimed the victim had stolen something from him previously."
In the video released by police, the woman could be heard telling them the attack had lasted for six hours.
The woman told police she did not know the suspect, IMPD said.
IMPD's Internal Affairs department is investigating the incident to ensure the officers followed policy. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office is also being consulted during the investigation, according to IMPD.
In 2023, IMPD officers shot 18 people. Ten of those people died.