Indianapolis police release video of officer-involved shooting on Broadway

INDIANAPOLIS — Indy police have released additional video from a May incident in which officers shot and killed an armed man on the porch of a stranger's home. Body camera footage from the initially responding officer was not included because the officer's camera was not activated.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released critical incident video Thursday with details of a May 2 incident in which two IMPD officers fatally shot Brandon Qualls while responding to reports of of a gunman suffering a mental health crisis.

Shooting

IMPD previously said officers were called shortly after 2 p.m. to the 600 block of 38th Street on Indy's North Side after receiving several calls about Qualls, 35, waving and pointing a gun at strangers In the region. He also allegedly threatened to shoot people.

Witnesses told FOX59/CBS4 that Qualls was suffering from a mental health issue before police were called to the area. He then walked toward a stranger's porch on Broadway Street before two IMPD officers arrived on the scene and fired their service weapons at Qualls.

Qualls was then taken to Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. In an IMPD press release sent that same evening, IMPD said the gun Qualls was holding was later found on the porch steps.

IMPD said no officers or other civilians in the area were injured in the shooting. FOX59/CBS4 has learned at least one bullet hit the porch window of a civilian home and was stopped by a filing cabinet.

Doorbell Images

FOX59/CBS4 previously obtained three minutes of doorbell camera footage showing the moments before, during and after the shooting that left Qualls dead.

The beginning of the video shows an unknown man lying on the porch calmly talking with Qualls about how carrying a gun is common in Indiana. Shortly after, an IMPD officer is shown walking on the porch toward Qualls, who is holding a handgun in his right hand.

“You’re okay, you know me,” Qualls can be heard saying. “I wouldn't do this if it wasn't what it is. If I'm wrong, please tell me.

The officer can be heard telling Qualls to put his hands up before Qualls raises his right hand while holding the 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 almost 20 seconds before falling silent. Meanwhile, the second officer who fired the shots arrives on the porch to help search for Qualls' gun.

Officers handcuffed Qualls more than two minutes after the shooting. At that time, first responders can be heard asking where Qualls' injuries were, saying, “Just in the chest?” Yeah. Right in the chest.

Thirty seconds later, and nearly two and a half minutes after Qualls was shot, first responders began to help. The video then ends with the last frame appearing to show Qualls still lying on the ground.

Body camera footage

IMPD has since identified the two officers involved in the shooting as Ivan Flick, a 6-year veteran, who first walked onto the porch and fired the first shots, and Randall Buck, a 9-year veteran , who shot from the porch and came up afterward.

In video of the critical incident released Thursday, IMPD provides edited footage from a body-worn camera of Officer Buck. However, footage of Officer Flick is only available after the shooting, as he failed to activate his camera before walking onto the porch and shooting.

In Buck's body camera footage, the officer can be seen walking out of his shift and turning toward the porch to see Officer Flick already standing on the steps. Officer Flick can be heard yelling “put your hands up” before the two officers begin shooting at Qualls.

IMPD also included the previously released doorbell footage in the video instead of Officer Flick's body camera footage. The doorbell video appears to be exactly the same as what FOX59/CBS4 previously viewed.

The department's video of the incident highlights parts of the doorbell footage that shows Qualls pointing the gun at Officer Flick. It also shows the seconds after Officer Flick's shooting, where the gun Qualls was holding appears to have been thrown across the porch toward the stairs.

IMPD response

In IMPD's video summarizing the incident, the department explains how officers “waited for additional assistance” before giving Qualls medical aid. The video claims officers administered first aid to Qualls before IEMS crews arrived to take him to the hospital.

The video ends by saying the deadly shooting is being investigated by multiple groups, including the IMPD Critical Incident Response Team, IMPD Internal Affairs Unit, Bureau of the Marion County Prosecutor and the civilian majority Use of Force Review Committee.

When asked by FOX59/CBS4 if Officer Flick's failure to activate his camera was a violation of policy, IMPD officials said the body cameras operate on a geolocation that automatically activates when the agents were in a certain area of ​​where they were sent.

However, if an officer is redirected, IMPD said the body cameras do not automatically turn on. While officers can activate their cameras manually, IMPD said they sometimes simply forget because they are used to them turning on automatically.

Last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office informed the Indy community of an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into recent shootings involving IMPD officers. IMPD officers have been involved in seven shootings so far this year, six of which resulted in the death of a suspect.

After the fatal shooting of unarmed man Aaron Bailey in 2017, IMPD sued and settled that case by agreeing that the department would change its training to teach officers to look for cover, distance and delay additional to reduce the risk of officer-involved shootings.

IMPD General Order 1.30 states that “officers will attempt to de-escalate situations with the goal of resolving confrontations without the use of force, when possible” and that “de-escalation techniques include the use of communication, time, distance, barriers. and ongoing situational awareness” and “Officers will conduct a threat assessment to avoid putting themselves or others in harm’s way.” »

IMPD provided the following statement to FOX59/CBS4 after the doorbell footage was made public:

“IMPD is aware of home surveillance video capturing the officer-involved shooting on May 2, 2024, in the 3900 block of Broadway Street. Investigators were aware of potential video evidence on the day of the incident, but were unable to access it. IMPD obtained the video yesterday after receiving it following the issuance of a subpoena and it is part of an ongoing criminal and administrative investigation. Releasing this video, or screenshots from the video, without proper context hinders IMPD's investigative process and does not provide sufficient information to the community about what led to the shooting.

In accordance with our protocol for police-involved shootings, IMPD engages with community members in the days following such incidents. We share preliminary information, answer questions, and describe our investigative procedures. Additionally, a third-party vendor is currently producing critical incident video, which will incorporate relevant audio from the 911 call, body camera footage, and other available evidence. These videos provide important context to the entire incident. The videos include applicable 911 radio traffic, body camera videos, other available videos and information known to detectives. These are included to share the full context of the incident and not just one perspective. Before its public release, the video is reviewed by community leaders to ensure its accuracy and effectiveness in communicating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Out of respect for the family of the deceased, IMPD is offering them the opportunity to view the video before its public release. However, this step has not yet been carried out in this case.

As previously reported, officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Northern District were called to the 600 block of East 38th Street for a report of an armed person. Upon responding, officers learned through 911 dispatch that the suspect was outside waving and pointing a firearm at residents. Officers responded to the scene.

At the same time, another resident in the 3900 block of Broadway Street called 911 to report that the suspect was on the porch of his residence. The caller said the suspect had a gun and put it in front of his face. This person said they didn't know the person.

Minutes later, officers made contact with the suspect on the front porch of the home located in the 3900 block of Broadway Street, at which time the officer-involved shooting occurred. Additional 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 IMPD's Critical Incident Response Team. The incident will also be reviewed by the Use of Force Review Committee, which has a civilian majority. This is done after the conclusion of the criminal proceedings

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 consistent release of body-worn camera critical incident videos and other videos.“

To watch FOX59/CBS4's complete coverage of the doorbell footage, click here. To watch IMPD's full critical incident video, click here.