INDIANAPOLIS — Indy police have released additional video from a May incident where officers shot and killed an armed man on the front porch of a stranger’s home. Bodycam footage of the initial responding officer wasn’t included as the officer’s camera wasn’t activated.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department published a critical incident video Thursday with details on a May 2 incident where two IMPD officers shot and killed Brandon Qualls while responding to reports of an armed man waving a gun.
The shooting
IMPD previously said officers were called shortly after 2 p.m. to the 600 block of 38th Street on Indy’s north side after receiving multiple calls about Qualls, 35, waving and pointing a gun at strangers in the area. He was also reportedly threatening to shoot people.
Witnesses told FOX59/CBS4 that Qualls was suffering from a mental health episode before police were called to the area. He later made his way onto a stranger’s porch on Broadway Street before two IMPD officers arrived on scene and fired their service weapons at Qualls.
Qualls was later taken to Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. In an IMPD news release sent out the same night, IMPD said the gun Qualls was holding was later found on the front porch steps.
IMPD said that no officers or other civilians in the area were injured in the shooting. FOX59/CBS4 did learn that at least one bullet hit the porch window of a civilian house and was stopped by a filing cabinet.
Doorbell footage
FOX59/CBS4 previously obtained three-minute-long doorbell camera footage that showed the moments before, during and after the shooting that left Qualls dead.
The beginning of the video shows an unknown man reclined on the porch calmly talking with Qualls about how carrying a gun is common in Indiana. Soon after, an IMPD officer is shown walking up on the porch toward Qualls, who is holding a handgun in his right hand.
“You’re fine, you know me,” Qualls can be heard saying. “I wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t what it is. If I’m wrong, tell me, please.”
The officer can be heard telling Qualls to put his hands up before Qualls raises his right hand while holding the gun.
After this brief exchange, the officer can be seen immediately firing at least 10 shots at Qualls while a second officer in the front yard fired at least one additional shot. In total, the shooting lasted between two and three seconds.
Qualls can be heard wheezing and gasping for air for nearly 20 seconds before going silent. During this time, the second officer who fired shots comes onto the porch to help look for Qualls’ gun.
Officers proceeded to handcuff Qualls more than two minutes after the shooting. Around this time, first responders can be heard asking about the location of Qualls’ wounds saying, “Right in the chest? Yup. Right in the chest.”
Thirty seconds later, and nearly two and a half minutes after Qualls was shot, first responders began to render aid. The video then cuts off with the last image appearing to show Qualls lying still on the ground.
Bodycam footage
IMPD has since identified the two officers involved in the shooting as 6-year veteran IvanFlick, who initially walked on the porch and fired the first shots, and 9-year veteran RandallBuck, who fired from off the porch and walked up after.
In the critical incident video released Thursday, IMPD provides edited body-worn camera footage from Officer Buck. However, footage from Officer Flick is only available from after the shooting as he failed to activate his camera before walking onto the porch and shooting.
In Buck’s bodycam footage, the officer can be seen getting out of his squad and turning toward the porch to see Officer Flick already standing on the steps. Officer Flick can be heard yelling “hands up” before both officers begin firing at Qualls.
IMPD also included the previously published doorbell footage in the video in lieu of Officer Flick’s bodycam footage. The doorbell video appears to be the exact same as what FOX59/CBS4 had already viewed.
The department’s incident video highlights certain portions of the doorbell footage that show Qualls pointing the gun at Officer Flick. It also shows the seconds after Officer Flick fires where the gun Qualls was holding appears to be kicked across the porch onto the stairs.
IMPD response
In IMPD’s video summarizing the incident, the department explains how officers “waited for additional assistance” before giving any medical aid to Qualls. The video claims officers administered first aid to Qualls before IEMS crews arrived to take him to the hospital.
The video ends by saying that the deadly shooting is being investigated by several groups including IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team, IMPD’s Internal Affairs Unit, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and the Civilian-Majority Use of Force Review Board.
When asked by FOX59/CBS4 whether Officer Flick not activating his camera was a violation of policy, IMPD officials said that bodycams operate on a geo-location that automatically turns on when officers get within a certain range of where they’re dispatched.
However, if an officer gets redirected, IMPD said that the bodycams don’t come on automatically. While officers can activate their cameras manually, IMPD said they sometimes simply forget as they are used to them automatically turning on.
Last week, the US Attorney’s Office advised the Indy community of a Department of Justice inquiry that is underway regarding IMPD’s recent officer-involved shootings. IMPD officers have been involved in seven shootings so far this year, six of which resulted in a suspect death.
After the fatal shooting of unarmed man Aaron Bailey in 2017, IMPD was sued and settled that suit with an agreement that the department would alter its training to teach officers to seek cover, distance and additional time to reduce the potential for officer-involved shootings.
IMPD General Order 1.30 states that, “Officers will attempt to de-escalate situations with the goal of resolving encounters without the use of force, when feasible,” and, “De-escalation techniques include the use of communication, time, distance, barriers, and continual situational awareness,” and, “Officers will conduct a threat assessment to avoid placing themselves or others in jeopardy.”
IMPD provided the following statement to FOX59/CBS4 after the doorbell footage was made public:
“IMPD is aware of a home surveillance video capturing the officer-involved shooting on May 2, 2024, in the 3900 block of Broadway Street.Investigators were aware of the potential video evidence on the day of the incident but could not access it. IMPD obtained the video yesterday after receiving it subsequent to the issuance of a subpoena and it is part of an ongoing criminal and administrative investigation. Releasing this video, or screenshots of the video, without proper context hampers IMPD’s investigative process and does not provide sufficient information to the community about what led up to the shooting.
In line with our protocol for officer-involved shootings, IMPD engages with community members in the days following such incidents. We share preliminary information, answer questions,and outline our investigative procedures.Additionally, a third-party vendor is currently producing a critical incident video, which will incorporate relevant 911 call audio, body camera footage, and other available evidence.These videos provide important context of the entire incident.The videos include applicable 911 radio traffic, body camera videos, other available video and information known to detectives. These are included to share the full context of the incident and not a single perspective.Before public release, the video undergoes review with community leaders to ensure its accuracy and effectiveness in communicating the circ*mstances surrounding the incident.
Out of respectfor the deceased’s family, IMPD extends an opportunity for them to view the video prior to its public dissemination. However, this step has not yet occurred in this case.
As previously released, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) North District officers were called out to the 600 block of East 38th Street on a report of a person armed. While responding, officers learned from 911 dispatch that the suspect was outside waving and pointing a firearm at residents. Officers responded to the area.
At the same time, another resident in the 3900 block of Broadway Street, called 911 stating that the suspect was on the porch of their residence. The caller stated the suspect had a gun and put it in front of her face. That caller said she did not know the individual.
Minutes later, officers came into contact with the suspect on the porch of the house in the 3900 block of Broadway Street, which is when the officer-involved shooting occurred. Additional, arriving officers provided medical aid to the suspect until medics arrived. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) arrived and transported the individual to Methodist Hospital, where he later died.
There remains both an internal affairs review of the incident and a separate, parallel criminal investigation by the IMPD Critical Incident Response Team. The incident will also be reviewed by the civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board. That is done after the conclusion of the criminal process
IMPD remains committed to transparency and working with our community to share information as demonstrated by providing community briefings within 48 hours of an incident and by the consistent release of critical incident videos containing body-worn camera and other video.“
To watch FOX59/CBS4’s full coverage of the doorbell footage, click here. To watch IMPD’s full Critical Incident Video, click here.
