This story has been updated. Originally published on October 24th.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department identified the officer who shot and killed a man after a traffic stop on Oct. 24.
Patrol Officer Gunnar Gossett is a five-year veteran of the department. Gossett has been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure.
35-year-old Darcel Edwards was shot after fleeing a traffic stop. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and has since been pronounced dead.
According to IMPD, an officer heard shots being fired while canvassing an area just south of the Fall Creek River on North Park Avenue.
The officer then stopped a car driving quickly in the area. Edwards exited the vehicle and then, against the orders of police, reentered the car and drove off.
Police said the officer traveled in the direction they saw the vehicle flee, but was not in pursuit. The officer then discovered the vehicle had crashed on the corner of East 25th Street and Columbia Avenue.
Police said Edwards fled westbound and was then found up a tree on the west side of the street.
According to IMPD, officers told Edwards to come down, and he refused. He told officers to shoot him and talked about his well-being and having a medical condition.
Police then asked the man to stop reaching in his pockets. According to IMPD, Edwards responded, “I’m going to my pocket then, kill me.” Gossett then discharged his weapon.
Officers provided medical attention until Edwards could be transported to Methodist Hospital in critical condition.
IMPD said officers located a gun holster on the man but were unable to find a gun.
The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team and Internal Affairs will conduct separate investigations into the incident.
During a press conference, Deputy Chief of Police Kendale Adams told reporters there were questions about the uptick in shootings internally.
“It’s concerning on both the police and the community,” he said. “...our officers are concerned, we’re concerned as leadership, we’re concerned as a community. Because there have been a number of officer-involved shootings. We’re all concerned.”
Adams said police are looking to understand if there is any commonality between the incidents.
“We do know that when people disobey the police or they disobey lawful orders that’s a problem,” he said. “We have processes in place to identify when officers have not done it right.”
