There are still many questions that remain unanswered following the shooting death of 15-year-old Andre Green. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s (IMPD) narrative began Aug. 9, when Green and two other unidentified persons reportedly stole a car at gunpoint in the area near 38th and Dearborn streets. According to IMPD, this carjacking was followed by a call to police of four shots fired into a residential neighborhood from the same stolen vehicle. At 11:08 p.m. the vehicle was spotted by law enforcement near 30th Street and Colorado Avenue. Approximately four minutes later, Green and the other individuals arrived at a dead end street with officers. The still unidentified passengers fled on foot, one east and one west, leaving Green alone. The 15-year-old allegedly maneuvered the car he was driving in a threatening manner causing one female officer to leap out of the way. Police then fired shots into the car. Contrary to IMPD’s earlier report, Green was not holding a gun when he subsequently fell out of the vehicle wounded, in an attempt to escape. The gun, according to them, fell out of the car and he landed on top of it.
News of Green’s death sparked national coverage and has resulted in thousands of comments on Twitter. This incident, the latest in a long line of police-involved slayings, comes on the heels of the one- year anniversary of the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri by officer Darren Wilson.
As of Recorder press time, there has been no video footage recovered from a dash cam or from the recording devices of nearby witnesses. The officers on the scene were not wearing body cameras.
In a statement released to the media, Michael Twyman, the executive director of Your Life Matters and Tanya Bell CEO of the Indiana Black Expo, called for the community to come forward with any information or video footage. They also urged city leaders to consider making the procurement of body cameras for all officers an immediate priority.
“The issue of the loss of life for young African-American men in the nation as well as in the city is something we’re all trying to make sense of, learn from and provide a safety net that allows for better outcomes,” said Twyman.
On Aug. 11, members of Green’s family, community leaders and activists communed on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis for a protest demonstration demanding transparency and answers.
In a brief interview with The Indianapolis Recorder during the rally, Andrea Jackson, Green’s mother shared she simply wants the truth about what happened to her son. IMPD Chief Rick Hite has called the shooting an unfortunate tragedy.
Twyman concurs.
“This is a tough message to the family and anyone that is close to the situation but, we must be patient and allow the investigation to occur and the fact gathering to continue. A lot of the narratives that are being shared are being done so through social media by people that, just like you and I, were not there,” said Twyman. “Unfortunately what we don’t have and will never have at this point is the narrative of Mr. Green.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS (8477) or the IMPD Homicide office at (317) 327-3475.
Be sure to pick up your copy of The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper for more in-depth coverage.
