Full Notification

UPDATE #1 (November 24, 2023) 

Following a threat assessment related to the officer-involved shooting on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 7500 Ruskin Place, IMPD Chief Randal Taylor identified the officer involved as 8-year veteran Patrol Officer Mitchel Farnsley.  
 
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.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as 31-year-old Leandre Krushaun Houston. 

Detectives learned the gun found with Houston was reported stolen a few days prior to this incident.

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

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INCIDENT TYPE:  Wanted Subject Investigation Leads to Officer-Involved Shooting  

INCIDENT LOCATION:  7500 Ruskin Place 

ASSIGNED DETECTIVE:  Detective Michael Wright, [email protected]   

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

This information is preliminary and subject to change.  

On Friday, November 17, 2023, shortly before 5:00 p.m., IMPD North District officers in a fully marked police car attempted to stop a vehicle being driven by 30-year-old Demarqus Whitley, who had an active warrant for theft-when property stolen is a firearm (level 5 felony), unlawful carrying of a handgun with a prior felony conviction (level 5 felony), and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle (level B misdemeanor).  Detectives were specifically looking for Whitley as a suspect in an investigation of guns being stolen from vehicles in the Broad Ripple area. Whitley stopped briefly before driving away.  Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit that included the use of their lights and sirens that ended near the intersection of Ruskin Place and N Mitchner Avenue when Whitley got out of the car as it was still moving.  Whitley and a male passenger ran from the vehicle. 

IMPD officers chased the passenger suspect southbound, the passenger pulled an object from his waistband area, the passenger jumped a fence behind a residence, and at some point, an officer-involved shooting occurred resulting in the passenger suspect being shot.  Officers located a firearm with the suspect and officers provided him with medical aid.  Medics transported the passenger suspect to Methodist Hospital in critical condition where he later died. 

Detectives located a firearm at the location where the passenger suspect was shot (See attached photos). 

IMPD officers located Whitley under a truck in the 7600 block of Ruskin Place.  Officers gave Whitley instructions to come from under the truck, Whitley followed the instructions, and officers took him into custody without further incident.  Whitley was transported to Methodist Hospital for a complaint of an unknown eye injury. 

Whitley was arrested for his warrant and also for resisting law enforcement (level 6 Felony), resisting law enforcement (level A misdemeanor), and operating a vehicle having never received a license (level C misdemeanor).  He should be considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decision. 

No officers or uninvolved citizens were injured during this incident. Following the shooting, officers completed a check of the immediate area and did not locate any citizens who were injured. Detectives are confident there is no on-going threat to the community.   

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

The officer involved was equipped with body-worn cameras during this incident. Additional officers involved in the incident also had body-worn cameras that were activated but the additional officers were not at the exact location of the officer-involved shooting when it occurred. 

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.  

The Marion County Coroner’s Office will release the name of the deceased after next of kin is notified.  

IMPD Internal Affairs is conducting a separate administrative investigation. The officer who fired his 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 Michael Wright at the homicide office by calling 317-327-3475.  Alternatively, anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 317-262-TIPS.  

Case Number – IP230113865