Fatal Indianapolis shooting death of Eric Levon Taylor – Obituary
In the early hours of Tuesday, a tragic incident unfolded on the south side of Indianapolis when police engaged in a pursuit that ended in a fatal shooting.
At approximately 3 a.m., the distressing incident took place at an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Portage Terrace, situated near the intersection of Madison Avenue and East Stop 10 Road.
The police had responded to a distress call related to a domestic violence situation.
The call came from a woman who expressed grave concern, informing dispatchers that a man intended to harm them all.
Providing details about the incident, Lieutenant Shane Foley of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department addressed the media at the scene.
Upon arriving, officers located the woman who had reported the danger near Madison Avenue and East Southport Road.
She informed the police that she had received alarming information suggesting that her former boyfriend was en route to her residence with intentions of causing harm, as stated in a news release.
In order to protect herself and her children, she vacated her home, but her ex-boyfriend relentlessly pursued her.
The officers made an attempt to intercept the vehicle carrying the man, suspected of issuing threats, near the vicinity of Southport Road and Madison Avenue. Following a brief pursuit, the man exited his vehicle while brandishing a handgun. He repeatedly implored the police to “shoot me,” a moment that was captured on body camera footage, with the weapon clearly visible in his hand, Foley reported.
The officers issued commands for the man to drop the firearm and lie on the ground. At some juncture, one of the officers discharged their weapon, resulting in the man collapsing into the passenger seat of the vehicle. A firearm was subsequently discovered on the passenger side of the vehicle. The police did not disclose whether the man had aimed the weapon at the officers.
The man, later identified as Eric Levon Taylor, aged 37, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Miraculously, none of the officers sustained injuries during the incident.
In the words of Lieutenant Shane Foley, “This is a very tragic situation, nobody wins in this instance. At the same time, we are thankful the woman… is safe, we are thankful that her kids are safe.”