Indianapolis -
An Indiana state trooper opened fire on a 14 year old boy just before noon on Saturday, after the teen allegedly resisted arrest, and reached for a semi-automatic pistol as he fled the scene.
Senior Trooper Ronald Lowe pulled the teen over for allegedly speeding through a construction zone on I-465 North. According to State Police, when Lowe approached the car on the northbound exit ramp for Rockville Road, the driver appeared nervous and attempted to reach beneath his seat several times. The trooper then reportedly had the teen get out of the car and later noticed the butt of a gun beneath the seat.
After seeing the gun, the trooper attempted to handcuff the teen. Sergeant Dave Bursten says there was a short struggle followed and Lowe was forced to defend himself.
"We've got lots of problems here," Bursten said. "This could have ended with either the suspect being killed and injured. It could have ended with a dead state trooper."
Bursten credits senior trooper Lowe for acting quickly after the scuffle with the 14 year old. The teen pushed Lowe to the ground during the stop, and returned to his car, where the pistol was. As the teen attempted to get away, Lowe reported seeing the teen reach under the seat again. Lowe then took out his own gun and fired several times at the car, shooting out two tires. Bursten says the shots were justified.
"(Trooper Lowe) sees him reaching under the car (seat) again," Bursten said. "It's reasonable to think he's going for the gun, and this isn't like the wild, wild west where we let the bad guy shoot first. We look at the totality of those circumstances and that officer is completely within his rights to protect himself and to protect others."
After the tires were shot out, the teen lost control and crashed into a median on Rockville Road. Instead of giving himself up, the 14 year old took off running across the road and into an apartment complex. An off-duty officer followed the teen on foot and IMPD officers later arrested him at the Port O'Call apartments.
"It's surprising," said Sam Ball who lives nearby and works maintenance at the apartment complex. "But Port 'O Call, we've had a lot of break-ins and stuff so it kind of goes with the area."
Despite the problems Sam Ball has seen in the area, State Police won't say whether the teen had any connection to the complex. It's just one of many unanswered questions officers and neighbors have yet to resolve.
"You're carrying a gun? You're up to something," said Mark Richey who lives nearby. "A semi-automatic? You're definitely up to something. Fourteen? There's a story behind that."
The 14 year old is currently in custody at the Marion County Juvenile Center. He was arrested for Battery of a Police Officer (Felony), Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle (Felony), Resisting a Police Officer (misdemeanor), and Possession of a Handgun Without a Permit (Misdemeanor).
Senior Trooper Ronald Lowe pulled the teen over for allegedly speeding through a construction zone on I-465 North. According to State Police, when Lowe approached the car on the northbound exit ramp for Rockville Road, the driver appeared nervous and attempted to reach beneath his seat several times. The trooper then reportedly had the teen get out of the car and later noticed the butt of a gun beneath the seat.
After seeing the gun, the trooper attempted to handcuff the teen. Sergeant Dave Bursten says there was a short struggle followed and Lowe was forced to defend himself.
"We've got lots of problems here," Bursten said. "This could have ended with either the suspect being killed and injured. It could have ended with a dead state trooper."
Bursten credits senior trooper Lowe for acting quickly after the scuffle with the 14 year old. The teen pushed Lowe to the ground during the stop, and returned to his car, where the pistol was. As the teen attempted to get away, Lowe reported seeing the teen reach under the seat again. Lowe then took out his own gun and fired several times at the car, shooting out two tires. Bursten says the shots were justified.
"(Trooper Lowe) sees him reaching under the car (seat) again," Bursten said. "It's reasonable to think he's going for the gun, and this isn't like the wild, wild west where we let the bad guy shoot first. We look at the totality of those circumstances and that officer is completely within his rights to protect himself and to protect others."
After the tires were shot out, the teen lost control and crashed into a median on Rockville Road. Instead of giving himself up, the 14 year old took off running across the road and into an apartment complex. An off-duty officer followed the teen on foot and IMPD officers later arrested him at the Port O'Call apartments.
"It's surprising," said Sam Ball who lives nearby and works maintenance at the apartment complex. "But Port 'O Call, we've had a lot of break-ins and stuff so it kind of goes with the area."
Despite the problems Sam Ball has seen in the area, State Police won't say whether the teen had any connection to the complex. It's just one of many unanswered questions officers and neighbors have yet to resolve.
"You're carrying a gun? You're up to something," said Mark Richey who lives nearby. "A semi-automatic? You're definitely up to something. Fourteen? There's a story behind that."
The 14 year old is currently in custody at the Marion County Juvenile Center. He was arrested for Battery of a Police Officer (Felony), Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle (Felony), Resisting a Police Officer (misdemeanor), and Possession of a Handgun Without a Permit (Misdemeanor).
