Full Notification

UPDATE #4 (December 1, 2023)

As is the standard practice for these types of incidents, IMPD produced a critical incident video for this officer-involved shooting.  The video was completed and set to be released in the near future.  On November 27, 2023, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office filed a Motion for a Protective Order Regarding Discovery and the court granted the motion the next day.  The court order prohibits anyone with access to video footage from sending, duplicating, exhibiting, printing, distributing, selling, reproducing, or copying any of the footage.  
 
Chief Taylor remains committed to transparency while also respecting the criminal justice process and the law. Unless and until the Court’s Order is modified to allow for public release, the critical incident video will not be released to the public until the criminal case has concluded.


UPDATE #3

Following a threat assessment related to the officer-involved shooting on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in the 10000 block of E. Washington Street., IMPD Chief Randal Taylor identified the officer involved as 16-year veteran Roman Ervin-Williams.
 
IMPD will continue to be fair and transparent with our community while protecting the integrity of criminal investigations and officer safety. IMPD formalized a policy in 2020 that outlines when and how officers involved in critical incidents should be identified to the public.
 
This policy solidifies IMPD’s practice of conducting a threat assessment by the IMPD Intelligence Unit following a critical incident and prior to releasing the names of the officers involved to protect the officer and their families. This policy ensures information is provided to the public as soon as possible.
 
This incident is being investigated by IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).  Detectives are working with the Marion County Prosecutors Office and the Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency to ensure a fair and thorough investigation is completed.
 
A separate internal investigation is being conducted by IMPD’s Internal Affairs Unit to ensure compliance with departmental policy, as is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting. 
 
The civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will conduct a mandatory hearing for any use of deadly force against a person.  The Use of Force Review Board will make an advisory finding related to this incident, which will be limited to determining whether the officer’s actions were within departmental policy. This occurs after the conclusion of the criminal process

###

Update #2 (October 15, 2023) 

After consultation with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO), IMPD detectives arrested 31-year-old Mar-Kel Sampson for his alleged role in this incident. He was arrested for Battery with a Deadly Weapon and Pointing a Firearm.  Detectives allege Sampson was shot by the IMPD officer after shooting another individual.

An arrest is merely an accusation, and Sampson should be considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The MCPO will make the final charging decisions. Sampson remains in the hospital at the time of this release. 

The arrest was made under case number IP230102221. 

###

Update #1 (October 14, 2023)

The officer was in full police uniform with a fully marked police car parked outside the business.  The officer was working off-duty employment for Bubbaz Bar & Grill at the time of the incident and was the only officer on the scene initially. Officers provided the suspect with medical attention prior to medics arriving.  

                                                    ### 

INCIDENT TYPE:  Disturbance at Business Leads to Officer-Involved Shooting 

INCIDENT LOCATION: 10030 E. Washington Street  

ASSIGNED DETECTIVE:  Detective Sergeant Scott Stauffer, [email protected]  

*Media inquiries should be made to [email protected]* 

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, just before 2:00 a.m., an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officer working off-duty employment in the 10000 block of E. Washington Street learned of a disturbance inside the business. While the officer was attempting to defuse the situation near the business's entryway, shots were fired from inside the business, and a male victim received injuries consistent with a gunshot wound(s).

The officer then engaged the alleged suspect, leading to an officer-involved shooting. The alleged suspect was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital by Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) in critical condition.     

The initial victim was self-transported to an area hospital and is listed in critical condition.

Subsequently, at about 2:30 a.m., IMPD East District officers responded to the 2800 block of Carla Court on a report of a person shot. Officers arrived and located an adult female who sustained injuries consistent with a gunshot wound(s). Officers learned the victim received her injuries at the initial scene in the 10000 block of E. Washington Street. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) arrived and transported the victim to an area hospital in stable condition. 

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. 

The officer was equipped with a body-worn camera during this incident. 

The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency responded to identify and collect potential forensic evidence. 

No officers or uninvolved citizens were injured as a result of this incident. Detectives are confident there is no ongoing threat to the community.  

The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene to conduct the criminal investigation. 

IMPD Internal Affairs is conducting a separate administrative investigation. The officer who fired their firearm has been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting investigation.  

The civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will conduct a mandatory hearing for any attempted use of deadly force against a person. This occurs after the conclusion of the criminal process. 

The Police Officer Support Team (POST) responded to provide peer support for officers.  The IMPD Chaplain’s Office responded to assist those involved. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sergeant Scott Stauffer at the homicide office by calling 317-327-3475.  Alternatively, anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 317-262-TIPS. 

Case Number – IP230101991