By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
INDIANAPOLIS — Videos released from multiple body-worn cameras show intense moments when Indianapolis police officers were involved in a shootout that wounded two officers and killed a suspect, WXIN reports.
The Indianapolis Police Department released an edited video compiling the bodycam footage from three officers who were involved in a pursuit that ended in a shooting from an April 20 incident.
Police said the suspect, identified as Daniel Yefter Ghebrehiwet, drove off as officers attempted to pull him over near an intersection. As he drove away, officers attempted two PIT maneuvers on Ghebrehiwet’s car but were unsuccessful.
Police said the suspect continued driving and went into a business parking lot with officers still in pursuit.
As officers step out of their patrol cars, gunfire can be heard on the bodycam videos. Police said the suspect began open firing on the four officers with a rifle before the patrol cars were even stopped.
“Ah! I’m hit, I’m hit, I’m hit,” Det. De Leon yells as he falls to the ground. “On my foot, in my foot.”
“Put a tourniquet on, get a tourniquet on him,” another officer in the BWC can be heard saying as the exchange of gunfire continues.
In one of the videos, Det. Phelps can be heard as he realizes he’s been shot shortly after giving orders and assessing the situation out loud.
“I think I’m hit, I’m bleeding,” Phelps said. “I’m okay… Let’s go, we’re good.”
Police said Phelps was shot in the torso.
After four officers fired back at Ghebrehiwet, officers can be heard communicating that one suspect is down. Since officers could see Ghebrehiwet’s rifle, they used a ballistic shield to approach the suspect and secure the weapon. Once officers approached Ghebrehiwet, police said it was quickly determined he was deceased.
The last parts of the bodycam footage released by police show officers approaching Ghebrehiwet’s van, which has its back window shot out. A passenger that was riding with Ghebrehiwet had run away from the scene.
Police said the passenger was apprehended shortly after the shooting uninjured.
Both detectives De Leon and Phelps were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Phelps was released the same day and De Leon was released the next day, WXIN reports.