INDIANAPOLIS — A 29-year-old man is under arrest for attempted murder after shots were fired as officers attempted to serve a search warrant at an Indianapolis business Wednesday night.
IMPD said officers detained several people after an hourslong "critical incident" Thursday morning. One of those was 29-year-old Bryan De La Torre, who police say was arrested Thursday on the preliminary charge of attempted murder.
The incident began around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, when officers responded to a report of a person shot near East 21st Street and North Arlington Avenue. A man who had apparently been shot at that location was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Investigators determined that evidence related to the shooting may be at a business in the 6000 block of Massachusetts Avenue, near the intersection with East 34th Street and North Arlington Avenue. Around 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, SWAT officers arrived at the business to execute a search warrant.
As officers were approaching the building, shots were fired from inside the business, police said. Police said another round of shots were fired from inside the building at a later time. No officers were injured, and officers did not fire any shots during the incident, an IMPD spokesperson said.
Officers established a perimeter around the business, during which time a man came out of the building and was taken into custody. His role in the incident was not immediately clear.
Tactical teams from several neighboring police departments and IMPD’s critical incident response team were called to the scene.
Shortly after 6:30 a.m., IMPD saw multiple people lying on the floor inside the building. Officers then went into the building, finding three people inside. A man and woman left the building on their own, but police had to carry another man out of the building. All three people were checked out by medics, and the man who police had to carry out was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Police detected a strong, unknown odor inside the building, believing it could be methamphetamine lab, so the Indiana State Police Meth Suppression High Hazard Team responded to investigate.
Detectives found four firearms and several fired shell casings during a search of the building Thursday. Officers identified fentanyl contamination inside the building, along with diesel fuel and other legal chemicals inside.
In addition to De La Torre, police arrested 28-year-old Jose Lopez, who was wanted on an unrelated warrant for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felong, dealing marijuana and possession of marijuana.
Others who had been detained at the scene were released, pending further investigation, police said. There were no arrests made in connection with the shooting at East 21st Street and North Arlington Avenue, according to an IMPD release.
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will determine final charges, if any, against De La Torre.
Late Thursday night, IMPD said detectives were still processing the building for forensic evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Scott Stauffer at 317-327-3475 or by email at Scott.Stauffer@indy.gov. Calls can also be made anonymously to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.