INDIANAPOLIS, IN - A 37-year-old Indiana man was shot and killed after he brandished a machete-like weapon at an Indianapolis police officer and attacked him Wednesday. The officer was forced to draw his sidearm and shot Christopher L. Worrell as he advanced on the officer after intentionally ramming a vehicle.
According to reporting from the local Fox affiliate Fox59, officers of the Indianapolis Metro Police Department arrived following an accident report to find Worrell brandishing the machete. Officers issued verbal commands to the suspect telling him to drop the weapon multiple times while creating distance between them. When Worrell advanced still holding the weapon the officer fired.
IMPD told reporters that the officers also encountered two victims whose vehicle was reportedly rammed by Worrell and were subsequently attacked by the machete-wielding man.
Officers said that when the two victims left their car following the accident, Worrell struck one of them in the head with the machete, injuring the woman.
The officers began to give first aid to Worrell immediately after the officer-involved shooting and he was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. The suspect later died.
Chief Chris Bailey described the incident Wednesday as “another example of the tough work that [IMPD] officers face,” according to Fox59. He expressed gratitude that neither officer was injured but said at the time he was “heartbroken” that two people were injured.
IMPD Deputy Chief Tanya Terry told reporters that the victims and Worrell allegedly knew each other. She suggested that the suspect, an employee at a nearby business, was likely waiting for the victims to leave work before attacking them.
An update from the department later revealed, “A witness also told investigators that the suspect told him he was about to witness a suicide by cop after his attack on this victims and before officers arrived.”
The officer who fired on Worrell has been placed on administrative leave under standard department procedure for officer-involved shootings. Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police President Rick Snyder issued a statement that evening thanking the officer for “dedication and selfless service.”
“Time and again, law enforcement officers place themselves in harm’s way to defend and protect residents and visitors of our capital city,” Snyder said in the statement per Fox59. “While we pray for the family of the deceased, we also pray for the victims of this attack and for this officer who was forced to take action in defense of life.
“Tonight violence was stopped, life was protected, and this officer is going home to their family without physical injury,” Snyder concluded.
According to reporting from the local Fox affiliate Fox59, officers of the Indianapolis Metro Police Department arrived following an accident report to find Worrell brandishing the machete. Officers issued verbal commands to the suspect telling him to drop the weapon multiple times while creating distance between them. When Worrell advanced still holding the weapon the officer fired.
IMPD told reporters that the officers also encountered two victims whose vehicle was reportedly rammed by Worrell and were subsequently attacked by the machete-wielding man.
Officers said that when the two victims left their car following the accident, Worrell struck one of them in the head with the machete, injuring the woman.
The officers began to give first aid to Worrell immediately after the officer-involved shooting and he was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. The suspect later died.
Chief Chris Bailey described the incident Wednesday as “another example of the tough work that [IMPD] officers face,” according to Fox59. He expressed gratitude that neither officer was injured but said at the time he was “heartbroken” that two people were injured.
IMPD Deputy Chief Tanya Terry told reporters that the victims and Worrell allegedly knew each other. She suggested that the suspect, an employee at a nearby business, was likely waiting for the victims to leave work before attacking them.
An update from the department later revealed, “A witness also told investigators that the suspect told him he was about to witness a suicide by cop after his attack on this victims and before officers arrived.”
The officer who fired on Worrell has been placed on administrative leave under standard department procedure for officer-involved shootings. Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police President Rick Snyder issued a statement that evening thanking the officer for “dedication and selfless service.”
“Time and again, law enforcement officers place themselves in harm’s way to defend and protect residents and visitors of our capital city,” Snyder said in the statement per Fox59. “While we pray for the family of the deceased, we also pray for the victims of this attack and for this officer who was forced to take action in defense of life.
“Tonight violence was stopped, life was protected, and this officer is going home to their family without physical injury,” Snyder concluded.
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