INDIANAPOLIS — Multiple investigations are underway after a deadly IMPD officer-involved shooting on Indianapolis' near northeast side early Tuesday.
The incident happened around 4:15 a.m. Oct. 24 in the 2500 block of Columbia Avenue, near East 25th Street and Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue.
According to IMPD Deputy Chief Kendale Adams, an IMPD officer in the area first heard shots fired in the area of East 25th Street and Park Avenue and saw a car speeding.
Police said the officer stopped the car, and the driver allegedly got out of the car and told the officer that someone hit his vehicle. Police said the driver then got back in his car and drove away, and the officer did not initiate a chase with the suspect vehicle.
According to police, the car then crashed into a pole and fence a few blocks away at the intersection of East 25th Street and Columbia Avenue, police said.
Police said the driver, 35-year-old Darcel Edwards, was not in the car when officers arrived to the scene of the crash.
According to police, Edwards climbed a tree. Officers allegedly gave verbal commands to tell him to come down from the tree.
Police said Edwards then made comments about his medical condition and wellbeing as officers told him "not to reach" several times.
According to police, Edwards made a comment to officer about going into his pocket and to "kill me."
That's when police said one officer shot at Edwards in the tree.
Medics took Edwards to Methodist Hospital in "critical but stable condition," according to police.
On Oct. 27, the coroner's office released details that Edwards had died. After the coroner's release, IMPD updated its public notice to note the death.
Police said they do not know how many shots were fired.
According to police, Edwards was wearing a holster, but police did not find a gun at the scene as of Tuesday. IMPD did not say if anything was found in the search of the car, backyard and immediate area.
"There are a lot of questions a lot of us have any time an officer discharges a weapon. Those are things we have to try to evaluate," Adams said.
No officers or other citizens were injured, and officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene to begin an investigation, and a separate investigation is being conducted by IMPD Internal Affairs.
The officer who fired their gun, five-year veteran Patrol Officer Gunnar Gossett, was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
The civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will hold a mandatory hearing after the criminal process concludes.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Michael Duke at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
IMPD, mayor respond to police shootings
This is the 13th shooting involving IMPD officers since the beginning of the year. It is also the ninth since August. That’s almost double compared to this time last year.
Just like the community, IMPD is also concerned and has questions.
“We don’t know why we are seeing this number of shootings, of officer-involved shootings,” Adams said. “No officer wants to wake up and have to discharge a firearm, but the reality is we do. While most people were asleep today, we had officers out here working in this environment.”
Based on data from IMPD, police shootings have happened in every district this year. Some have stemmed from investigations involving a stolen car, warrants and traffic stops.
Adams said a big concern is the fact that people are not listening to officers.
“I will tell you that when people decide to disobey a lawful order or the direction of an officer, it can lead to this,” Adams said. “We all have the same concern as a community member, as someone who has lived in this community, as a police officer, as a police leader, we all have questions, and I think that is something we have to continue to evaluate.”
In May 2022, a study by Johns Hopkins University found an increase in police shootings happened in states that dropped permit requirements for carrying concealed weapons.
Indiana passed that law in July 2022.
“The truth is that there are more guns in Indianapolis than there are people,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said. “When officers are faced with situations where the people they are being called upon to investigate and perhaps hold accountable are carrying a weapon, that’s a very dangerous situation, not only for the resident and the citizen but it also presents a danger to the officers.”
Hogsett said permitless carry has greatly impacted Indianapolis. Back in July, an ordinance was passed by the City-County Council to repeal permitless carry.
However, state law blocks it from going into effect.
“The old traffic stop where you are just pulling someone over for running a red light and you can just walk up to the car without the thought in mind that someone might have a gun, unfortunately, because of permitless carry, I’m sorry, those days are behind us,” Hogsett said.
Last week, IMPD said the department is looking to bring in independent experts to investigate what may be causing the increase in police shootings.
Clergy calls for outside oversight
The Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis and the Baptist Minister's Alliance issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, asking the Department of Justice to come in and start asking IMPD questions about the shootings.
"It's more than saying, 'I'm disturbed about it,'" said Rev. David W. Greene Sr., president of the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis. "We're going to address it. The question is how many people will die or get shot before we address it."
The organization said it's time to bring in outside oversight to look into the number of shootings.
"Ultimately, this leads to a distrust between community and law enforcement, and therefore, we all lose," Greene said.
According to Greene, the victim in Tuesday's shooting's pleas for officers to kill him should have been a signal to police about the man's mental health issues.
"We got an ugly future ahead of us, if every mentally ill person who doesn't comply with an officer is going to be shot, that's problematic, and we can do better," Greene said.