INDIANAPOLIS — Police are investigating after a car theft led to shots being fired near Arsenal Technical High School Monday moring.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, around 6:30 a.m., officers were called to the 600 block of Woodruff Place for a report of shots fired.
When they arrived, they found an adult man with injuries that were initially thought to be caused by a bullet graze. He was taken to the hospital but was later released when doctors confirmed his injuries were not from a gunshot.
Officers quickly discovered that two suspects had run away from a stolen vehicle found at the scene. To find the suspects, police set up a perimeter and used dogs and a drone for help.
As a safety precaution, Arsenal Tech High School and H.L. Harshman Middle School were put on lockdown. This lockdown was lifted soon after, with no injuries reported among students or staff.
The Anderson Police Department confirmed to WRTV that an off-duty officer with the department was involved in the incident after his vehicle was stolen.
Based on preliminary information, police believe that the victim reported his vehicle stolen earlier that morning. He found his stolen car while driving and was attempting to recover it with the help of a friend when a confrontation occurred with the suspects.
According to IMPD, this dispute led to shots being fired from both the victim and the suspects, who then crashed the stolen vehicle and fled on foot.
Detectives also found at least one nearby house that had been hit by the gunfire, but fortunately, no innocent bystanders were hurt.
Police recovered three firearms at the scene, which will be kept as evidence, along with the stolen vehicle for further investigation. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will decide the next steps regarding any potential charges.
Anyone with information about this shooting is urged to contact Detective Larry Craciunoiu at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or by email at Larry.Craciunoiu@indy.gov. The investigation is ongoing as police work to piece together what happened.
