MORNING NEWS with KIM WELLS
A short car chase ended in a police action shooting, overnight. When a car carrying several passengers bolted from a traffic stop on the west side of Indy near West Troy Avenue and South Holt Road before midnight Tueday, the driver of the car jumped out and opened fire on officers near the Wayne Township Firehouse #81. Officers returned fire, hitting the male suspect multiple times. IMPD described the suspect as being in critical, yet stable condition. The suspect was taken to Eskenazi Hospital. Three officers were involved in this incident so investigators with IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team and Internal Affairs Unit will conduct independent investigations, which is standard operating procedure for any officer-involved shooting.
Metro Police are also investigating a nightclub shooting Wednesday morning. A man was shot in the shoulder at Club Venus in the 3500 block of West 16th Street just before 3:00 a.m. So far, police have made no arrests and the shooting victim was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in good condition. This is the second shooting at this adult nightclub in about a month.
IMPD is launching a pilot program that will allow officers to administer a life-saving heroin antidote. The drug is called naloxone and comes in the form of a nasal spray. Public Safety Director Troy Riggs says the program will begin next month in the city’s southwest district. Last year, Indianapolis recorded 95 heroine overdose deaths, more than double the number in 2011.
The Indiana State Department of Health is investigating two people accused of trying to donate plasma even though they’re infected with HIV. Officials say the woman was informed of her status in 2006 and the man was notified in 2007. Police aren’t sure yet if the two were working together.
Young people are supporting a constitutional proposal banning same-sex marriage. The Young Hoosiers for Marriage group met at the State House Tuesday. Spokesperson Shane Weist said, quote, “We are committed to rebuilding culture to ensure that children are not intentionally deprived of a mother and a father.”
Westfield Washington Schools is considering a plan that would add an hour to the school day to make up for the days missed because of bad weather. If approved, the extended schedule would be in effect for 24-days.
Federal contractors will be forced to pay a higher minimum wage to future employees. President Obama will sign his promised executive order Wednesday boosting the minimum wage. Wages will increase to ten dollars and ten cents an hour for private sector employees working on federally-contracted projects.
The jury in the murder trial of a Florida man accused of killing an unarmed teen in a dispute over loud music is expected to begin deliberations Wednesday afternoon. Michael Dunn took the stand Tuesday and said the 2012 shooting of 17-year-old Jordan Davis was an act of self-defense because he thought Davis and his friends were armed.
The Indiana Pacers play host to the Mavericks Wednesday night in their final contest before the All-Star break. Tip off is at Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 7:00 p.m.
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