Incident at City Councilman’s Home

An Indianapolis city councilman reported that his house was shot at, which may be linked to opposition against a planned data center in the Martindale-Brightwood area.

Ron Gibson, currently in his third term on the Indianapolis City Council, shared that he and his 8-year-old son were safe but woke up to the sound of gunfire. He described his immediate reaction as a parent, rushing to ensure his son felt secure. Reports state that around midnight, 13 shots were fired into the front door, accompanied by a note in a Ziploc bag that read, “No Data Centers.”

Gibson emphasized, “This wasn’t just an attack on my home; it endangered children and disrupted the entire neighborhood’s safety. While we acknowledge that public projects can elicit strong opinions, resorting to violence is never justified, especially when families are affected.”

Local authorities, including the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, responded to the scene around 9 a.m. Officers observed evidence of gunfire and are treating the incident as isolated and targeted. So far, no suspects have been identified, and the FBI is helping investigate.

Prior to the shooting, Gibson had attended a City Development Commission meeting to support rezoning efforts at 2505 North Sherman Drive, where Metroblox LLC plans to establish a data center and additional businesses. Following his comments at the meeting, he faced disapproval, being booed by attendees.

During the discussion, Gibson pointed out that the development would likely create around 300 construction jobs over three years. However, most attendees voiced their opposition to the data center during the meeting.

Though the Capital Development Commission approved the project last week, it still requires approval from the Indianapolis City Council.

Project Martindale Brightwood, a local group opposing the data center, condemned the shooting incident. They emphasized in a statement, “Violence has no place in our communities or in defending our rights,” further clarifying that the signs and messages seen are not representative of their organization. Their focus remains on peaceful advocacy rooted in respect and accountability.

In response to the violence, Indianapolis City Council President Maggie Lewis stated, “Disagreements are a natural and necessary part of civic life, but violence and intimidation undermine our commitment to democracy, civil discourse, and community safety.”