INDIANAPOLIS — A man will serve more than 87 years in prison after being sentenced for the attempted murder of an IMPD officer.
Mylik Hill was found guilty last month for shooting and wounding Ofc. Thomas Mangan in February 2022 during a traffic stop in Fountain Square. Mangan was shot twice, with one bullet hitting his throat, shattering his voice box.
The jury found Hill guilty on two counts of attempted murder, six counts of resisting law enforcement and one count of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
At sentencing, the judge said Hill had aggravating factors including the damage he did to Mangan, his criminal history, and that he was on parole at the time he shot Mangan. She noted his 11 arrests in his criminal history.
"You are not the victim in this case, no matter how many times you say it," the judge said to Hill.
She also told Mangan he had been heard and she heard him.
"Mr. Hill may have taken your voice, but he has not taken your spirit," the judge told Mangan.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears issued a statement, reading in part:
“The significant sentence announced today not only marks the end of a challenging chapter for Officer Mangan, his loved ones, and his law enforcement family but it sends a message that attacks on our law enforcement officers will not be tolerated."
On Tuesday, Mangan released a statement on the sentencing:
"We praise the Lord for His abounding faithfulness and mercy to us today. So many prayers were answered for us and the Majors family.
We are thankful to Judge Davis for her composure and wisdom as she weighed all the circumstances in delivering this just and weighty sentence.
We are thankful for the message Judge Davis sent in her sentencing to the community and beyond that the sacrifice that police officers make every day to protect and serve the city of Indianapolis matters and that violence on them will not be tolerated.
We are thankful for the Marion County Prosecutors Office for their tireless and excellent work to bring justice and resolution in this case.
On March 11th, two years ago today I was released from the hospital. Today we have another anniversary to celebrate and remember what God has done.
That day as I walked out of the hospital I was overwhelmed by the support of my fellow officers. Again today as I walked to the stand and looked out on their faces I felt encouraged and emboldened to give my statement.
They are the true hero’s [sic] in our city who continue to stand the line between good and evil.
We are thankful for our family, friends, church family, and community who have surrounded us with love, prayers, and wrote dozens of impact statements to the judge on our behalf.
We will hold onto & cherish this day. There will always be dark days. But the sun will continue to rise. There are bright days ahead as we remember that God is making all things new (Rev 21:5)."
Background on shooting
Shortly after 10 p.m. Feb. 27, 2022, officers were called to a traffic accident in the 1600 block of Lexington Avenue, near Shelby and Prospect streets in Fountain Square. It came shortly after someone called about a person with the same description exposing himself in the area.
While responding to the accident, two officers came across a car matching the description of that in the 1600 block of Woodlawn Avenue, which is four blocks south from where the traffic accident happened. Police said the driver also matched the description of the person exposing himself.
The officers got out of their police car but said the suspect ran from them. Officers ran after him and, in an alley north of Woodlawn Avenue, the suspect and one of the officers shot at each other. Mangan, who was in field training at the time, was shot. Police later confirmed Officer Daniel Majors, a seven-year veteran, was the officer who shot the suspect.
Police secured a perimeter search for the suspect and got several calls from residents reporting having seen a possible suspect.
Using a drone, officers located the suspect, who had also been shot, shortly after 11 p.m. in the area of 900 Dawson Street.
Officers found a handgun "adjacent to where the suspect was located."
According to IMPD, the gunshot caused significant damage to Mangan's laryngeal cartilage — commonly known as the "Adam's apple" — and voice box.