INDIANAPOLIS — A jury has convicted a man of attempted murder and other charges in a shooting that wounded an IMPD officer.
Mylik Hill was found guilty Thursday night 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.
After the verdict, Mangan shared a statement through IMPD:
"We are thankful to be able to stand on faith in Christ alone and be carried along by the prayers and support of IMPD, the FOP, IFD, family, church, friends, and the community. Dan Majors has been a steadfast example of unwavering support and bravery. He risked his life to save mine.
Today has brought our family a sense of relief. Emory and I are grateful for the jury’s verdict. We appreciate the hard work done by the detectives, officers, prosecutors, community members, and everyone else involved bringing this case to resolution.
We would not have been able to make it through the last two years and especially these past three days without each and every one of you.
I’ve reflected on my first words after being shot and not being able to talk for 2 months. These words seem very appropriate now:
“Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus, sweet sweet Jesus.”
While the road to recovery continues, today’s verdict gives us a sense of peace. We have found solace in God’s faithfulness and His mercies which are new every morning."
Hill's sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 11.
Here are key points from each day of the trial:
Day 3 of trial
Hill took the stand Thursday in his own defense, questioning himself as he acted as his own attorney.
"Were you shot under your arm on Feb. 27?" Hill asked.
"Yes," he replied to his own question.
"Will you show the gunshot wounds of what you are saying?"
Hill then took off part of his shirt to show the jury his injuries, before continuing to questioning himself.
Hill spoke for more than 30 minutes during closing arguments, and the jury was given the case around 6 p.m. to begin deliberations after a dinner break.
Day 2 of trial
There was not an empty seat in the courtroom as Mangan testified Wednesday.
Mangan spoke in a low, raspy whisper after he was shot in the throat two years ago.
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.
Day 1 of trial
Mangan arrived at the courthouse Tuesday afternoon with his family and dozens of supporters, including fellow officers, by his side. Opening statements in the trial got underway just before 2 p.m.
Hill, who is representing himself in his trial, is facing nine felony charges, including two counts of attempted murder.
The judge needed to give Hill guidance several times on the judicial process. In his opening statement, the defendant accused police and the state of covering up evidence.
"I chose to represent myself in this matter to ensure that I have a fair trial," Hill said. "The state must prove every element of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. There must be no doubt in your mind that I did this hideous crime that I'm accused of. The burden is on the state. The charges against me are attempted murder. The evidence will show, and I will get proved not guilty of attempted murder because the evidence will show that."
Several officers who were at the scene of the shooting were the first to take the stand on Tuesday. Ofc. Justin Foster explained what he saw just before gunshots were fired and Mangan was hit as he was chasing the suspect on foot.
"I saw him ... the last thing I really remember seeing was, the only way I can describe it would be like an angle tackle in football," Foster said.
Mangan is expected to take the stand Wednesday.
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.