At 12:21 p.m. Thursday, two Indiana State Troopers, both in the same fully marked police vehicle, were preparing to pull over a black Dodge Charger for erratic driving, including unsafe speed and following too closely. As the suspect vehicle was coming to a stop, a male passenger got out of the passenger side of the vehicle and fled on foot.
The troopers engaged in a foot pursuit with the male and reported via their police radio that they were in foot pursuit of an armed suspect. Moments later they reported the male was in custody and were requesting medics for the suspect due to a gunshot wound. The troopers immediately began emergency medical aid on the male, including applying a tourniquet to his upper arm. The only injury to the man was on his arm. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital in stable condition.
Indiana State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene to conduct an investigation. Preliminary information has determined the man who fled from the vehicle, identified as 23 year old Mitez Harper of Indianapolis, ran from the troopers into a nearby neighborhood, carrying a handgun. As he emerged from behind a house he was encountered by Trooper Isaiah Henderson, a 2 1/2 year veteran of the Indiana State Police. Harper was armed with a black handgun with an extended magazine. Trooper Henderson fired one shot, striking Harper in the arm. Harper then laid on the ground until being taken into custody by the troopers. The two troopers immediately rendered medical aid, including Trooper Henderson placing a tourniquet on Harper’s arm. Trooper Henderson was the only officer to discharge his weapon in this incident. Per Indiana State Police protocol, Trooper Henderson will be placed on administrative duty.
Investigators determined Mitez Harper was wanted on an active warrant for kidnapping. A handgun with an extended magazine was recovered from the scene. Both officers involved were equipped with body cameras, as well as a dash camera in the police vehicle. All cameras were activated during this incident and that footage is being reviewed by investigators.
The vehicle that the troopers were pulling over left the scene before the driver could be identified, the investigation into locating that vehicle is ongoing.
The information in this release is preliminary, this investigation is ongoing and there is no further information to release. All crimes mentioned above are alleged and all suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.