An Indiana police officer fatally shot a suspect after firing at him during a high-risk traffic stop, video released Tuesday showed.
An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officer shot Raphael Dekemper, 48, after he appeared to be sprinting into the woods during a felony investigation on January 25 at approximately 5:25 p.m. . video showed that.
According to the video, officers were searching for Dekemper after reports he shot someone earlier that month. DeKemper was reportedly “wanted on warrants for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, criminal recklessness, use of a firearm, and invasion of privacy,” the video’s voiceover explains. There is.
A doorbell camera near the scene of the shooting showed Dekemper’s car stopping as an IMPD patrol car pulled up behind it. Officers’ body cameras also captured the scene.
“Driver, please turn off your vehicle,” a police officer tells the occupants of the vehicle.
“Everyone in the car, put your hands out the window. Do it now,” another person, identified in the video only as “Officer 1,” commands over the public relations system. The video notes that Officer #1 did not fire his weapon during the encounter. The three people who actually fired the shots have been identified only by their last names: Officer Smith, Officer Sojka, and Officer Hibshman.
At that point, Dekemper exited the vehicle through the passenger door with his gun drawn and fired at the officers as he ran toward nearby woods. The video shows several bullets hitting the police car closest to Dekemper’s car.
As police fired back, Officer Smith yelled, “He’s got a gun,” and Dekemper fell to the ground, apparently suffering from an officer’s gunshot wound. (Related: Video shows police fatally shooting suspect who allegedly attacked elderly man with ax)
“Don’t move! Don’t move!” Officer Soika calls out to Dekemper. DeKemper’s body appeared to be moving on the ground, but Smith yelled, “Don’t move!”
“Get the woman out,” Soika added, apparently referring to the driver of the car who was detained.
“We’ve got you,” Officer Hibshman can be heard saying.
Officers cautiously approach DeKemper, retrieve the firearm, and attempt to provide medical assistance.
“You’re going to be OK, you’re going to be OK,” Smith appears to be telling DeKemper.
IMPD said paramedics transported Dekemper to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“No officers or uninvolved citizens were injured in this incident,” IMPD noted.
This incident is under investigation.
