Indianapolis Police Release Bodycam Footage of Armed Standoff with Eric Taylor, Leading to Fatal Shooting

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Indianapolis, IN – The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) has released edited body-camera footage of a deadly armed standoff between three officers and 37-year-old Eric Taylor. The incident occurred in the early hours of September 19, when officers responded to a domestic disturbance call made by a woman who claimed that Taylor was threatening her and her children with a gun.

In segments of the body-camera footage, Taylor can be seen holding what appears to be a handgun and repeatedly asking officers to shoot him, while ignoring their commands to drop his weapon. The standoff ended when a police officer shot and killed Taylor.

Following the release of the edited footage, Taylor’s family members called for increased mental health services to be present at scenes like this to assist police and help prevent deadly encounters. “They could have used a taser or a rubber bullet. They had other options,” said Taylor’s mother, Kim Gray.

According to a timeline of events provided by IMPD, the incident began shortly after 3 a.m. when a woman called 911 to report a domestic disturbance. She informed the dispatcher that she had fled her home with her children because Taylor, her ex-boyfriend, was following them with a gun. The 911 call included a child’s plea for help, saying, “My daddy’s chasing us down the street and we don’t know what to do.”

Police located the woman’s vehicle at a gas station on Worman Street, where she pointed out Taylor’s car and informed officers that he had followed her there. A short pursuit ensued, ending when Taylor stopped at an apartment complex on Portage Terrace. Body-camera footage captured Taylor exiting his vehicle with what appeared to be a gun in his hand. Although Taylor never pointed the gun at officers, he repeatedly asked them to shoot him, ignoring their commands to drop the weapon.

In the released footage, Taylor can be seen walking around the passenger side of his car, continuing to dismiss officers’ commands. He leans forward into the open passenger door, and an IMPD officer fires a single shot, causing Taylor to slump forward and fall into the passenger seat.

IMPD emphasized that Taylor was armed with what appeared to be a handgun throughout the entire encounter. The department stated that Taylor initially held the gun in his right hand but switched it to his left before opening the car door. After the shooting, a Taurus G3C handgun was recovered from inside Taylor’s vehicle.

Taylor was transported to Eskenazi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No officers were injured during the incident, and Taylor did not fire any shots.

IMPD’s Internal Affairs Unit is currently investigating the shooting to ensure that officers complied with department policy. Additionally, a citizen-majority Use of Force Review Board will review the incident.

The release of the edited body-camera footage has brought attention to the ongoing debate surrounding police use of force and the need for improved mental health services in these situations. As the investigation continues, the community will await the findings of the Internal Affairs Unit and the Use of Force Review Board to determine whether the officers’ actions were justified..