An Indianapolis cop shot a 48-year-old black man, Carl
Williams in his own home Tuesday after the man called out police to respond to
a robbery, authorities say. The black man called police out to his home to deal
with an armed robber who had threatened his wife with a gun and tried to steal
her car at around 4:30am.
Officer Christopher Mills responded with his partner - but
when he saw Williams, Mills shot him, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police
Department (IMPD) said.
Mills, a nine-year veteran with the East District
police, hit Williams in the stomach once. It's not known if he fired other
shots. His partner, an eight-year veteran, did not fire.
Williams was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in
serious condition and is expected to survive.
'Our homeowner, the individual who was trying his best to protect
himself and his wife from any other harm, was shot mistakenly by our officers,'
IMPD Major Richard Riddle in a press conference Tuesday.
This incident occurred within a few seconds, and those
judgment calls are made within a few split seconds. 'She was victimized, and
unfortunately now, her husband was victimized as well.'
In an edited 911 call played to press, Williams was heard
telling the dispatcher that a black male in a red shirt with a 'long gun'
had stolen the keys to his wife's black Nissan Sentra, IndyStar reported.
At the end of the phone call, Williams - whose wife was also
heard sobbing in the background - was heard saying 'Is that him?' apparently in
reference to the robber.
The call is then disconnected and the operator is unable to
re-establish a connection.
According to the IMPD, Mills and his partner approached the
house and saw the black vehicle still stationary in the driveway.
Concerned that the armed robber was still on the premises,
police said, the officers attempted 'to approach in a covert manner to
investigate the vehicle.'
Williams then exited his garage holding a handgun, the
IndyStar said, and was shot. It's not clear what - if any -
words were exchanged, or whether Williams resembled the description of the
robber given to cops.
But police said there was no indication that Williams held
the weapon in a threatening way.
Daily Mail Cullage
5 Comments
This is very sad.
ReplyDeleteBlack live matters too.
ReplyDeleteIt's terrible...
ReplyDeleteAs if he called his death.
ReplyDeleteTouching.
ReplyDelete