INDIANAPOLIS — FOX59/CBS4 has obtained a video appearing to show an officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 2 that left a man dead following what witnesses described as a mental health crisis on Indy’s north side.
Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called shortly after 2 p.m. to the 600 block of 38th Street on the north side after receiving multiple calls reporting that 35-year-old Lemar Qualls was seen waving and pointing a gun at strangers in the area.
While officers were en route, IMPD said the officers were told the run had been upgraded to a person pointing a firearm and allegedly threatening to shoot people in the area.
According to previous reports, one of those callers reportedly told dispatch Qualls had stepped onto the porch of their residence on Broadway Street and pointed a gun at her while making odd comments and waving the gun around.
The homeowner told police they did not know Qualls and decided to call 911.
Witnesses told FOX59/CBS4 that Qualls was suffering from a mental health episode before police were called to the area.
Doorbell video
The three-minute-long doorbell footage shows the moments leading up to an officer-involved shooting that left Qualls dead.
At the beginning of the video, an IMPD officer can be seen walking up on the porch toward Qualls. Qualls can then be heard saying, “You’re fine, you know me. I wouldn’t do this, if it wasn’t what it is. If I’m wrong. tell me, please.”
FOX59/CBS4 is not showing the full video due to its graphic nature. A few freezeframes captured from the footage can be viewed below:
The officer can be heard telling Qualls to put his hands up. The video then appears to show Qualls raising his right hand holding what appears to be a gun.
After this brief exchange, the officer can be seen immediately firing at least 10 shots at Qualls while a second officer in the front yard fired at least one additional shot. In total, the shooting lasted between two and three seconds.
Qualls can be heard wheezing and gasping for air for nearly 20 seconds before going silent. During this time, a second officer comes onto the porch to help look for Qualls’ gun.
The video appears to show Qualls dropping the gun after he was shot before it skidded off the porch. In an IMPD news release sent out the same night the deadly shooting took place, IMPD said the gun was later found on the front porch steps.
Officers proceeded to handcuff Qualls more than two minutes after the shooting. Around this time, first responders can be heard asking about the location of Qualls’ wounds saying, “Right in the chest? Yup. Right in the chest.”
30 seconds later, and nearly two and a half minutes after Qualls was shot, first responders began to render aid. The video then cuts off with the last image appearing to show Qualls lying still on the ground.
IMPD released the following statement Thursday night:
IMPD is aware of a home surveillance video capturing the officer-involved shooting on May 2, 2024, in the 3900 block of Broadway Street. Investigators were aware of the potential video evidence on the day of the incident but could not access it. IMPD obtained the video yesterday after receiving it subsequent to the issuance of a subpoena and it is part of an ongoing criminal and administrative investigation. Releasing this video, or screenshots of the video, without proper context hampers IMPD’s investigative process and does not provide sufficient information to the community about what led up to the shooting.
In line with our protocol for officer-involved shootings, IMPD engages with community members in the days following such incidents. We share preliminary information, answer questions, and outline our investigative procedures. Additionally, a third-party vendor is currently producing a critical incident video, which will incorporate relevant 911 call audio, body camera footage, and other available evidence. These videos provide important context of the entire incident. The videos include applicable 911 radio traffic, body camera videos, other available video and information known to detectives. These are included to share the full context of the incident and not a single perspective. Before public release, the video undergoes review with community leaders to ensure its accuracy and effectiveness in communicating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Out of respect for the deceased’s family, IMPD extends an opportunity for them to view the video prior to its public dissemination. However, this step has not yet occurred in this case.
As previously released, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) North District officers were called out to the 600 block of East 38th Street on a report of a person armed. While responding, officers learned from 911 dispatch that the suspect was outside waving and pointing a firearm at residents. Officers responded to the area.
At the same time, another resident in the 3900 block of Broadway Street, called 911 stating that the suspect was on the porch of their residence. The caller stated the suspect had a gun and put it in front of her face. That caller said she did not know the individual.Minutes later, officers came into contact with the suspect on the porch of the house in the 3900 block of Broadway Street, which is when the officer-involved shooting occurred. Additional, arriving officers provided medical aid to the suspect until medics arrived. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) arrived and transported the individual to Methodist Hospital, where he later died.
There remains both an internal affairs review of the incident and a separate, parallel criminal investigation by the IMPD Critical Incident Response Team. The incident will also be reviewed by the civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board. That is done after the conclusion of the criminal process
IMPD remains committed to transparency and working with our community to share information as demonstrated by providing community briefings within 48 hours of an incident and by the consistent release of critical incident videos containing body-worn camera and other video.“
IMPD
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