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Bullets strike IMPD car, apartments during chase

Search underway for two suspects
Posted at 9:21 PM, Dec 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-23 17:18:10-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- Two suspects fleeing from police fired at an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Tuesday night, striking the officer's vehicle and nearby apartments.

The encounter began around 8:30 p.m., with officers from IMPD responding to a call about a person with a gun in the 2500 block of Appleton Terrace, on the city's south side.

When they arrived, they saw the suspect, but he sped away.

The officers began chasing the stolen car, which eventually stopped at 1500 Renton Street. Police say that's when someone in the vehicle began shooting at police through the back windshield of the car.

"When you have officers going about their business, ensuring that the community is safe, ensuring that people can enjoy the holiday season, and you have two individuals who feel it's appropriate to fire at police -- that's problematic." IMPD Officer Chris Wilburn said. "Stop, obey lawful orders, and we'll deal with the rest later."

Police say they drew their guns, but didn't fire because they couldn't get a clear shot without firing into nearby apartments. The suspects fired approximately nine shots -- hitting an officer's patrol car, as well as an apartment building, missing a child as they slept.
 
"The message is that this is no longer acceptable behavior for anybody -- for any civilized society," Wilburn said. "What we're trying to do is locate this individuals, get them the help they need, but for God's sake, get them off the street."
 
Zach Deford was in another room at the time, but he heard the shots that sent one bullet into the bedroom where his friend's 6- and 2-year-old children slept.
 
"I was mad," Deford said. "What if it wasn't straight into the wall? What if it had come straight through here and the kids were on the bed playing?"
 
He says it was tough to explain to the kids what had happened.
 
"I sat them down and said, 'Alright. Well, you guys need to understand, there's bad men outside, and they shot through your window,'" he said. "'So you guys need to (lie) down and relax, and just calm down.'"

Police set up a perimeter with a K-9 unit, a SWAT team and a helicopter, but never found the suspects. They are believed to both be men.

There were no injuries to officers or civilians in the incident.

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