A tense confrontation on the north side of Indianapolis ended in tragedy when police fatally shot a 35-year-old man who was allegedly pointing a firearm at bystanders and threatening to open fire. The Marion County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Lemar Brandon Qualls.
The incident unfolded on the afternoon of May 2 near the Indiana State Fairgrounds. According to police, multiple emergency calls had been placed about an armed individual menacing residents and passersby. Witnesses reported seeing Qualls brandish a handgun and issue verbal threats that he would shoot. Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) were dispatched to the scene and arrived within minutes.
When they located Qualls, officers attempted to de-escalate the situation. Authorities said commands were given for him to drop the weapon. However, investigators say the situation quickly escalated when Qualls refused to comply and continued to pose a threat. At that point, two officers fired their service weapons. Qualls was struck and collapsed at the scene. Emergency medical services transported him to Methodist Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Police recovered a firearm at the scene, which they said belonged to Qualls. No officers or civilians were injured in the exchange.
IMPD Chief Randal Taylor expressed that the department takes any officer-involved shooting with the utmost seriousness. “Whenever deadly force is used, it raises questions in the community. That is why our department has multiple layers of review in place,” Taylor said during a press briefing.
The shooting triggered several concurrent investigations. IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team is leading the primary investigation, gathering witness statements, body-worn camera footage, and forensic evidence. Internal Affairs has also opened a case to examine whether the officers’ actions adhered to departmental policy. In addition, the incident will be reviewed by a civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board, which is required to hold a public hearing whenever lethal force is used.
As standard procedure, both officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the investigations are ongoing. Their names have not yet been released.
Community reaction has been mixed, with some residents expressing relief that officers responded quickly to a dangerous situation, while others voiced concerns about the continued use of deadly force by law enforcement in Indianapolis. Local activist groups have called for transparency, urging that all body camera footage be released as soon as possible to ensure public accountability.
For those who lived through the tense moments before police arrived, the incident served as a grim reminder of how quickly violence can erupt. One resident, who asked not to be named, said, “It was terrifying. We saw him waving the gun, and people didn’t know where to run. I’m just glad nobody else was hurt, but it’s so sad it ended this way.”
The IMPD has stated that updates will be provided as investigations proceed. For now, the department is urging patience while evidence is reviewed and facts are confirmed.
Qualls’ death marks another addition to the ongoing discussions about the role of police force, public safety, and community trust in Indianapolis.
