INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released edited body camera footage on Tuesday of an early August shooting involving an IMPD officer near Washington Park that led to the death of 49-year-old Gary Harrell.

According to a news release from IMPD, the edited footage can be viewed on the department’s YouTube channel.

On Aug. 3, Douglas Correll, a veteran of the department and a north district officer, shot Harrell during a traffic stop for reckless driving in the 3400 block of North Parker Ave. According to previous reports, officials claimed at the time Harrell had already exited the car and began verbally engaging with the officer as Correll was approaching the vehicle during the stop,

IMPD said at the time Harrell continued to disregard the officer’s verbal commands. Police claimed Harrell then ran from the car with a handgun. After Correll initially ran after Harrell, officials said that he then shot Harrell.

In the video that shows the traffic stop, Correll leaves the car and asks Harrell “what are you doing.” At that point, Harrell was already out of the car. When asked for his license, Harrell goes back to the vehicle and Correll asks him to not get back into the car.

When Harrell was in the car, his phone rings and then he takes some time to look at his phone. After that Harrell starts to run down the street with what looks like a firearm in his hand.

In the video, Correll begins to run after Harrell. After running for a short time, Correll tells Harrell to “stop it, drop it,” referring to the firearm. Not even a second later, Correll shoots Harrell in the back after firing his weapon twice. This caused Harrell to drop his firearm immediately and fall to the ground.

After the incident, IMPD said at the time they did recover a handgun and narcotics at the scene. IMPD officials said in the video that the gun found on the scene was a five-shot .357 revolver, loaded with five rounds. The video did not say anything about supposed narcotics on scene.

Officials at the scene did not say at the time if Harrell pointed a gun or fired any shots at Correll. In the video, Harrell did not point a gun or fire any shots at Correll.

A friend of Harrell said after the incident that his family members are “completely distraught” about the incident. IMPD was not looking for Harrell when they pulled him over for what they call a routine stop.

IMPD Police Chief Randal Taylor released the following statement on the incident:

“Today the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released the critical incident video involving the shooting death of Gary Harrell. This release comes as a part of my commitment to transparency, and with the recognition of the tragic loss of Mr. Harrell and the lives impacted by this incident, including officers. It is crucial to have a thorough and complete investigation of what occurred during this incident before we come to any conclusions. At this point, this investigation is incomplete. I am asking for the public’s patience and trust as we investigate this thoroughly. My prayers remain with all involved.”

In a statement from Harrell’s family, provided to FOX59/CBS4 by the family’s attorney, they said that while Gary Harrell “made a poor choice… it should not have cost him his life.”

“What is undisputed from the video is that Gary had his back to Correll as he moved away from him,” the statement read. “Gary never assaulted, or even touched, Correll. Officer Correll gave one command—‘Stop! Drop it!’—but failed to give Gary any time to comply before gunning him down.”

The family said the “unjustified shooting” violated the U.S. Constitution, as well as IMPD’s Use of Force policy that was revised in 2020. The family specifically cited the portion of the policy that said officers are only permitted to use deadly force in two circumstances:

• To prevent or defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person;
• To apprehend a fleeing person for any felony that threatened or resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of a person, if the officer reasonably believes that the person will cause the death or serious bodily injury to another unless immediately apprehended.

“Neither circumstance was present on August 3rd,” the statement read. “There was no one else around but Gary and Officer Correll. Gary’s back was turned to Officer Correll, and Gary was moving away from Correll. Gary never pointed a gun at Correll. Under these circumstances, Officer Correll had no greater right to use deadly force in his own self-defense than any other citizen.”

To end the statement, the family called upon the department, as well as the Marion County Prosecutor “to fully and fairly investigate the shooting, including carefully considering criminal charges against Correll.”

Here is the statement provided to FOX59/CBS4 in full:

Gary Harrell made a poor choice on August 3, 2023 shortly after he was pulled over by IMPD Officer Douglas Correll on suspicion of reckless driving, a misdemeanor. He grabbed his cell phone and handgun and ‘attempted’ to run away from Officer Correll. Gary suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident years before, and he was not capable of moving very quickly. So, as seen in the video, he was stumbling away from Officer Correll, as opposed to sprinting. Although Gary made a poor choice that morning, it should not have cost him his life. What is undisputed from the video is that Gary had his back to Correll as he moved away from him. Gary never assaulted, or even touched, Correll. Officer Correll gave one command—‘Stop! Drop it!’—but failed to give Gary any time to comply before gunning him down. This unjustified shooting violated the U.S. Constitution and IMPD’s Use of Force policy revised in 2020. According to that policy, officers are not permitted to use deadly force unless the officer reasonably believes such force is necessary (1) to prevent or defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person, or (2) to apprehend a fleeing person for any felony that threatened or resulted in the death or serious bodily injury, if the officer reasonably believes that the person will cause death or serious bodily injury to another unless immediately apprehended. Neither circumstance was present on August 3rd. There was no one else around but Gary and Officer Correll. Gary’s back was turned to Officer Correll, and Gary was moving away from Correll. Gary never pointed a gun at Correll. Under these circumstances, Officer Correll had no greater right to use deadly force in his own self-defense than any other citizen. If two armed citizens are involved in a verbal confrontation, and then one turns and begins running away from the other, the first citizen cannot not shoot the other in the back. If that happened, the shooter would be charged with murder.

This is not the first time that Officer Correll has been accused of using excessive force against a Black man. In 2020 the City of Indianapolis paid $380,000 to settle the claim of a man who alleged that Correll falsely arrested and battered him, The man was actually the victim of a shooting who called 911 for help. Correll responded, ignored the man’s attempt to explain the situation. Instead, Correll punched him in the face and then kneed the man in his abdomen, resulting in a ruptured spleen. (See Harris v. Douglas Correll, Case 1:18-cv-01889-SEB DLP). The Harrell family questions why this officer was still employed by IMPD.

Gary’s mother, four sisters, and six adult children are still in shock. They call upon IMPD and the Marion County Prosecutor to fully and fairly investigate the shooting, including carefully considering criminal charges against Correll.

The family of Gary Harrell

John Kautzman and Leo Blackwell, the attorneys for Correll, sent FOX59/CBS4 a statement regarding the incident on Wednesday. In the statement, the legal team said they “endorse and reiterate the comments” made by IMPD Police Chief Randal Taylor, stating that there needs to be a “‘thorough and complete’ investigation to be done before any conclusions are made” regarding the incident.

“A legal analysis of this encounter cannot be based solely upon the cursory examination of video footage,” the statement read. “We look forward to the investigation revealing exactly what information was known to the officer at the time, precisely what actions Mr. Harrell took and all actions taken by Officer Correll pursuant to his training and experience. Like all other significant decisions, the review of an incident like this cannot be rushed, and should rise and fall based upon a detailed review of the totality of circumstances.”

The statement said that Correll’s legal team looks forward to a “fair and impartial review” of the incident that is free of political influence and undue public pressure.

Here is the statement provided to FOX59/CBS4 in full:

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released body camera footage yesterday regarding the fatal police shooting earlier this month involving IMPD Officer Douglas Correll. We first and foremost acknowledge that any death is a tragedy and the thoughts of Officer Correll and the law enforcement community go out to the Harrell family. We endorse and reiterate the comments of Chief Randal Taylor calling for a “thorough and complete” investigation to be done before any conclusions are made. A legal analysis of this encounter cannot be based solely upon the cursory examination of video footage. We look forward to the investigation revealing exactly what information was known to the officer at the time, precisely what actions Mr. Harrell took, and all actions taken by Officer Correll pursuant to his training and experience. Like all other significant decisions, the review of an incident like this cannot be rushed, and should rise and fall based upon a detailed review of the totality of circumstances. Departmental policies, Indiana statute, and U.S. Supreme Court caselaw allows an officer to use deadly force in several circumstances, especially in tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving situations. We therefore must await a full and fair investigative process. Far too often, political pundits and others are quick to judge police action shootings based upon little more than a snippet of video. Fortunately, longstanding legal precedent requires a much more thorough analysis. We look forward to a fair and impartial review of this matter free of political influence and undue public pressure. That is the only way to arrive at a final determination based solely upon the evidence.

John Kautzman & Leo Blackwell, Attorneys for IMPD Officer Douglas Correll