INDIANAPOLIS -- Mayor Joe Hogsett and IMPD Chief Troy Riggs were adamant Friday that recent attacks against police stations would not divide the city of Indianapolis.
An unknown gunman fired multiple shots Thursday night into IMPD's North District Headquarters. The shooting comes less than two weeks after a similar shooting at the Northwest District Headquarters.
Police say they believe the same individual was responsible for both shootings.
MORE | Shots fired at IMPD North District Headquarters | Shots fired into IMPD Northwest District HQ
On Friday, community leaders joined Hogsett and Riggs to show unity in the face of what they called an "attack against the city of Indianapolis."
Hogsett spoke to the people of the city first, saying they should be proud of the men and women of IMPD. Then he offered a message to the person who has been firing at police buildings:
"To the individual responsible for these acts, I have a very different message to you on behalf of the people of Indianapolis: Your violent actions have united our city, not divided us, and we will not waiver. Your senseless violence does not represent this community. Your senseless violence does not represent any group of people or gang or social movement. Your senseless violence represents one thing and one thing only: The acts of a coward who doesn't deserve the honor of living in the city that is the home of the brave men and women of IMPD. These officers will always get out of their cars and will continue to run toward our city's challenges, not from them. You will not shake this police department's resolve to protect and serve, and you will not shake this city's resolve and its support of IMPD."
"Whoever you are, wherever you are, know this: We will find you. You will be arrested. And you will be held fully accountable for these heinous acts."
At a meeting Tuesday morning with members of the press – prior to the second shooting – Riggs expressed his concern about the attack.
"We have reason to believe this person is very violent – not just because he shot at a police station," Riggs said. "I'll sleep much better at night when he's behind bars."
On Friday, Riggs spoke of togetherness.
"We cannot let the actions of an individual or individuals drive us apart as a community," he said. "We'll go through some tough times, but communities and community policing will win in the end."
U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler says his office has offered IMPD whatever federal resources it can to help solve the case.
Police are searching for leads in both the shooting at Northwest District HQ on Oct. 5 and Thursday night's shooting at North District HQ.
"Somebody knows who did this," Riggs told reporters earlier this week. "We're just a phone call away from a break in this case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS.
