Indianapolis police officer, suspect wounded in shootout after chase

The Indianapolis Police Department said a police officer and suspect in an unrelated shooting were wounded in a shootout after a chase on Saturday.

The department said in a statement that officers responded to a report of a shooting and found two people wounded, a 61-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man. The victims were taken to a hospital in critical and stable condition, respectively. 

Authorities said the suspect, who they identified as Keith Allender, 21, also intentionally struck with his SUV a woman who tried to help the female shooting victim.

Police said that Allender was a neighbor of the victims and that the shooting was unprovoked. 

Allender then shot three vehicles while driving away before being stopped by authorities, police said. Allender got out of his vehicle, fired shots at the officers, then drove away again. Officers gave chase, authorities said.

He soon stopped again and exchanged gunfire with five officers, Indianapolis police said.

Authorities said that Allender and a female officer were shot in the process. Both were taken to a nearby hospital where Allender was in critical condition and the officer, a two year veteran, was in good condition. The officer has since been released.

Allender was preliminary charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated battery, criminal recklessness, and resisting law enforcement. 

Allender’s handgun, which is licensed to him, was recovered at the scene, according to the statement.