INDIANAPOLIS — Multiple investigations are underway after an IMPD officer fatally shot a man police said was brandishing a machete at a home on Indianapolis' northwest side Sunday night.
Around 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, officers responded to a home in the 4500 block of Woodland Drive, near West 46th Street and Moller Road, after a woman pushed her medical button, stating someone was trying to kill her, IMPD said.
At the scene, officers found a man, later identified by the Marion County Coroner's Office as 40-year-old Kendall Darnell Gilbert, outside near the home's front door, who allegedly had a machete and made threats toward officers, who were able to help other family members from the house.
IMPD's SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Unit responded to the scene, and multiple negotiators spoke with Gilbert but "were not able to have any meaningful conversation," police said.
Shortly after 9 p.m., SWAT members used "a distraction device," as well as bean bag rounds, a taser, and pepper ball, IMPD said.
According to police, officers reported Gilbert, while still carrying the machete, moved toward officers and made contact with a ballistics shield one of the officers was holding.
One of the SWAT members fired their gun, hitting Gilbert at least once, IMPD said.
Medics then provided aid to Gilbert, who was taken to Eskenazi Hospital, where he later passed away, IMPD said.
According to police, detectives found a machete and knife at the scene.
No one else was injured in the incident, IMPD said, and multiple officers were wearing body cameras that were active at the time.
IMPD's Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene to begin an investigation, and a separate administrative investigation will be conducted by IMPD Internal Affairs.
The Use of Force Review Board will also conduct a hearing once the criminal process concludes.
The officer who fired their gun was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. He was identified Sept. 1 as 28-year veteran Lt. John Perkins.
According to IMPD, officers had responded to the home at least four previous times in the two days leading up to Aug. 27.
Police said that around 3 p.m. on Aug. 25, officers responded to the home on a welfare check call after a caller said a male was schizophrenic and sending strange messages to family. Officers did not make a report.
The next day, IMPD said officers responded to the home twice. Around 1:30 a.m. Aug. 26, officers were called for a report of a male destroying property in a bedroom, with family members stating he refused to open the door.
"Officers believed the male was not a danger to others, and no report was made," IMPD said in a statement early Monday.
Around 8:30 p.m. that day, officers were called to the home again, IMPD said, for reports of a male barricaded in a bedroom experiencing a "mental episode" and threatening to harm family members.
"Officers assisted getting family members out of the house and provided them with information about mental health resources," IMPD said.
On Sunday, Aug. 27, officers responded to the home around 5:20 p.m. from a family member who said their brother was hallucinating and saying he would burn the house down.
"Officers spoke with (the) caller and told the family member to leave (the) residence," IMPD said.
Less than two hours after that call, officers were called to the home again prior to the shooting.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Erika Jones at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.