Wounded Officer: Gunman Possibly Was Versed In Tactics

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis police Officer Peter Koe didn't witness the start of the gun battle that killed a fellow officer on the city's southeast side, but he was there to finish it.

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Officer: Gunman Used Cover, Darkness

Koe, 41, a SWAT team member, was at police headquarters when he heard reports of officers coming under fire early Wednesday. Police said he raced to the scene, located a gunman outdoors, and was shot in the knee before killing the suspect, shooting him several times.

On Thursday, the Indianapolis Police Department hailed Koe -- one of five officers who police say were shot by Kenneth C. Anderson -- as a hero who probably saved lives by taking one. Police said Anderson had fatally shot 31-year-old Officer Timothy "Jake" Laird in the gunfight.

Koe (pictured, left), speaking to reporters Thursday, said Anderson was hard to find because he knew what he was doing.

"This gentleman was not stupid," Koe said. "He was using cover; he was using darkness. He was very contemplative about wanting to do damage, and … he acted like he had training, or he probably was a buff or an enthusiast.

"He was using sound tactics to try to engage me."

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Police said Anderson, 33, of Indianapolis, who was suspected of killing his mother, began shooting at officers who came to the woman's home at 2704 Dietz St. around 2 a.m.

Authorities said officers couldn't see Anderson, who was armed with an assault rifle and kept his distance, eventually moving on foot toward his house a block away, in the 1700 block of Gimber Street.

Koe, who joined IPD 16 years ago from the U.S. Marine Corps, arrived and located Anderson.

"He took cover behind (a) vehicle," Koe said. "I closed the distance and assaulted his position and terminated the incident. It's that simple."

Koe shot Anderson several times. An autopsy showed Anderson was shot twice in the head, three times in the torso and an undetermined number of times in the legs.

Police said the casualty list could have been longer if Koe hadn't risked his own life to charge at Anderson.

"I don't think things happen (out of) coincidence," Koe said. "I think when it's needed, the right person is in the right place."