'Please drop the … gun, bro': Footage shows police pleaded with man before shooting him
Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department shot and killed a man on Friday, May 14, 2021, after they say he pointed a gun at them. Indianapolis Star
Moments before Indianapolis police fatally shot an armed man last month, officers begged him to put down the gun, according to body camera footage newly released by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
A man was having “mental and emotional” issues and reported as suicidal in the 3800 block of Red Mill Place, according to a call placed to 911 on May 14. Later more calls reported the man, later identified as Monolito Ford, shooting a gun into the air at the northeast Indianapolis apartment complex.
IMPD on Monday released portions of the body camera footage showing more context of the moments leading up to three officers encountering Ford, who police say pointed a gun before shooting him.
While police blocked the entrance to Autumn Trails Apartments, officers Joel Cain, Patrick Scott and Marco Zaragoza discussed ways to respond to the call — including Cain retrieving a less-lethal orange rifle from his police car.
The officers then ventured further into the complex and found Ford a few blocks into the property, in the 7800 block of Red Mill Drive.
The officers ordered Ford to drop the gun several times, according to the footage from IMPD. Scott is then heard pleading for Ford to drop it.
More: IMPD has gotten 123 requests for body camera footage. Here’s how they’ve responded.
“Man, drop it, please. Please drop the (expletive) gun, bro,” Scott is heard saying.
The footage then shows Ford walking quickly toward police and raising his gun, and the officers fire multiple times at him before the 48-year-old falls to the ground on his back. Scott then reported the police-action shooting and requested medics.
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Ford later died at Eskenazi Hospital.
The shooting is under investigation by IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team and Internal Affairs Unit, alongside Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
If you are struggling, help is available. Contact the National Suicide Hotline any time at 800-273-8255.
Contact Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com or 317-503-7514.
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Published at Mon, 07 Jun 2021 22:07:08 +0000