Full Notification

UPDATE #5 (December 15, 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 Discovery Protective Order and the court granted the motion the same 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 #4 (November 15, 2023)

On November 14, 2023, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office charged Mr. Hood with the following:

• Criminal Recklessness (felony level 5)
• Unlawful Carrying a Handgun (felony level 5)-Two counts
• Resisting Law Enforcement (felony level 6)

 
Mr. Hood should be considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
________________________________________________________
UPDATE #3 (November 14, 2023) 

Following a threat assessment related to the officer-involved shooting on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 3915 Caroline Avenue, IMPD Chief Randal Taylor identified the officer involved as 8-year veteran Patrol Officer Connor Finch.  
 
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.

Additional information about the IMPD Body Worn Camera program can be found at the link below:
https://www.indy.gov/activity/body-worn-camera-program

###

UPDATE #2 (November 13, 2023) 

Detectives obtained additional video evidence from this incident, which has provided more clarity regarding what occurred.   

The video was captured from the home’s surveillance cameras, which provided IMPD detectives with two new angles of the incident. One angle Is focused on the home’s driveway, while the other is positioned near the home’s front door. This video was obtained by detectives after the initial briefing. 

The new video shows that Mr. Hood fell to the ground, crawled to the gun, and picked up the gun before the officer discharged his firearm. 

The information that was released last week still remains accurate.   

Officers positioned themselves behind their vehicles in an attempt to de-escalate the incident by giving Mr. Hood verbal commands to “drop the firearm.” Officers then coordinated efforts to form an arrest team to take Mr. Hood into custody. Once officers encountered Mr. Hood, they continued giving verbal commands to “lay flat on the ground and do not move.” 

Initially, Mr. Hood complied with officers’ commands and laid down with his weapon next to him. Photos of that weapon are attached. Based on the initial investigation, detectives determined Mr. Hood left the firearm in the original spot where he laid it down. After the suspect was on the ground, officers requested the suspect to stand up and walk towards them, while remaining behind their patrol cars.  Mr. Hood initially complied with officer’s instructions.   

As officers continued to give verbal commands, Mr. Hood stopped, turned away from officers, and began rapidly moving in the direction of where his firearm was. 

Officers continued to give verbal commands by saying “don’t do that.” 

Mr. Hood stopped following officer’s commands, he moved quickly in the direction of the gun, went past the gun, fell to the ground, crawled to the gun, and picked up the gun before the officer discharged his firearm. 

This remains an active investigation.  The information shared is preliminary and subject to change. 

##

UPDATE #1 (November 11, 2023) 

After consultation with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO), IMPD detectives arrested 31-year-old Dontriell Hood for his alleged role in this incident. He was arrested for Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun (Felony Level 6), Criminal Recklessness (Felony Level 5), and Resisting Law Enforcement (Felony Level 6). 

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

                                                        ###

INCIDENT LOCATION: 3915 Caroline Avenue  

ASSIGNED DETECTIVE:  Detective Chris Craighill, [email protected]   

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

On Friday, November 10, 2023, at approximately 11:00 am, IMPD North District officers were dispatched to the 3900 block of Caroline Avenue on a report of an armed adult male actively firing shots. The initial caller reported the male was displaying erratic behavior. When officers arrived on the scene, they parked their patrol vehicles in the street to create space between them and the suspect.

Officers positioned themselves behind their vehicles in an attempt to de-escalate the incident by giving the suspect verbal commands to “drop the firearm” while remaining behind their vehicles. Officers coordinated efforts to form an arrest team to take the suspect into custody. Once officers encountered the suspect, they continued giving verbal commands to “lay flat on the ground and do not move.”

Initially, the suspect complied with officers’ commands and laid down with his weapon next to him. Photos of that weapon are attached. Based on the initial investigation, detectives believe the suspect left the firearm in the original spot where he laid it down. After the suspect was on the ground, officers requested the suspect to stand up and walk towards them, while remaining behind their patrol cars.

As officers continued to give verbal commands, the suspect stopped, turned away from officers, and began rapidly moving in the direction of where his firearm was.

Officers continued to give verbal commands by saying “don’t do that.” However, the suspect continued to move towards the gun on the ground. At some point, an officer fired his service weapon. The suspect suffered an injury that detectives believe is consistent with a gunshot wound.

The alleged suspect was taken into custody and officers rendered medical aid and applied a tourniquet at the scene. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) arrived and transported the suspect to an area hospital in serious, but stable condition.

The suspect has been preliminary charged with resisting law enforcement (felony level 6), unlawful possession a firearm (felony level 6), and criminal recklessness (felony level 5).

No officers were injured during this incident. Following the shooting, officers completed a check of the immediate area and located no citizens who were injured. Detectives are confident there is no ongoing threat to the community.  

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

The officers involved were equipped with body-worn cameras during this incident. 

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

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 and Victims Assistance Unit responded to assist those involved. 

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

Case Number – IP230111425