Full Notification

UPDATE #2 (December 7, 2023) 

Following a threat assessment related to the officer-involved shooting on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 4900 Knights Way, IMPD Chief Randal Taylor identified the officer involved as 26-year veteran Lt. Brandon Mills.   
 
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 #1 (December 4, 2023) 

After further investigation, the victim told detectives that before intervention from officers, the suspect pulled her into the cabin of the semi-truck, held her against her will there for hours and the suspect claimed the victim had stolen something from him previously.  The victim reported she did not know the suspect.  

The Marion County Coroner’s Office identified the suspect as 60-year-old Lamont Bland. 

##

INCIDENT TYPE:  Hostage Situation Leads to Officer-Involved Shooting  

INCIDENT LOCATION:  4900 Knights Way 

ASSIGNED DETECTIVE:  Sergeant Erika Jones, [email protected]  

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

This information is preliminary and subject to change.  

On Thursday, November 30, 2023, at approximately 7:20 p.m., IMPD Southwest District officers responded to the 4900 block of Knights Way on a check the welfare of a person.  The call came from a person not involved in the incident.  The caller reported they could hear a call for help from a female voice inside a white semi-truck in the parking lot.  Upon arrival, officers spoke with a witness who directed them to a semi-truck parked in a parking lot.  Officers in full police uniform approached the semi-truck, knocked on the door, and observed a male appear from behind a curtain. The curtain separated the driving and sleeping compartment of the cabin.  The male then closed the curtain, repeatedly came from behind the curtain, sat in the driver’s seat looking at officers, and then went back into the sleeping compartment of the cabin. 

An officer then heard a call for help coming from inside the cabin.  Officers broke the driver’s side window and were able to open the driver’s side door.  Officers were able to make verbal contact with the male who made multiple statements to officers including, “I’m going to kill her”, “I got a knife to her throat”, and “You’re gonna die”. 

They also heard calls for help from the female inside the sleeping compartment with the male who told officers, “I’m dying, help me”, “I’m bleeding out, help me”, and “He’s killing me.”  

Officers tried to speak with the male and get him to cooperate with them.  At some point, officers entered the sleeping compartment of the semi-truck, the male was on top of the female, the female was bleeding from the head, and one officer discharged his firearm resulting in the suspect being struck.  Officers immediately got the female victim out of the semi-truck. 

The female victim sustained multiple lacerations, was treated on-scene by officers, and later provided treatment by medics.  Victim’s Assistance responded to the scene and provided the victim with appropriate resources. 

Officers made an effort to get a medical kit but it was then immediately apparent the suspect was deceased.  The Marion County Coroner’s Office will release the name of the deceased after next of kin is notified.   

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

Multiple officers were equipped with body-worn cameras, which were activated during this incident.  

A razor blade with blood was located in the sleeping cabin. (Razor blade photo not shown due to the graphic nature of it.) 

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 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 Sergeant Erika Jones at the homicide office by calling 317-327-3475.  Alternatively, anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 317-262-TIPS.  

Case Number – IP230117928