Search fatalities

Kendall Darnell Gilbert

Age : 40

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 08/27/2023

Location : 4500 block of Woodland Drive

City : Indianapolis

County : Marion

State : Indiana

Agency : Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

Officer(s) :Lt. John Perkins

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Killed by police during mental health welfare check

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/27/2023, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded repeatedly to a residence in the 4500 block of Woodland Drive concerning 40-year-old Kendall Darnell Gilbert, who was experiencing an escalating mental health crisis. The fatal encounter followed several police responses to the same home over the preceding three days, all concerning Gilbert's mental health and reported threats toward family members.
.
On 08/25/2023, a caller told police that Gilbert had schizophrenia and was sending family members strange and concerning messages. Officers responded but made no report. At approximately 1:30 a.m. the following day, police were called again after Gilbert reportedly destroyed property in his bedroom and would not open the door for relatives. Officers concluded at that time that he did not present a danger to others and again left without taking him into custody.
.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. on August 26, police returned to the Woodland Drive residence after another reported mental health episode. Family members reported that Gilbert was threatening to decapitate relatives. Officers helped family members leave the residence and provided them with information about mental health resources.
.
On August 27, police were called back at approximately 5:20 p.m. after a family member reported that Gilbert was hallucinating, making threats and threatening to burn down the house. Officers advised family members to leave the residence.
.
At approximately 6:45 p.m., police received another call after an adult woman at the residence activated a medical-alert button and reported that someone was trying to kill her. IMPD Northwest District officers returned to the home for a welfare check.
.
Officers encountered Gilbert outside the residence holding a machete. According to police, Gilbert made threats toward both family members and officers. Video recorded by a neighbor showed Gilbert standing on the sidewalk with the machete while numerous police officers remained positioned behind vehicles.
.
Police removed other family members from the residence and requested IMPD's SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Unit. A psychologist with the Crisis Negotiation Unit was also present. Negotiators attempted to communicate with Gilbert, but IMPD later said they were unable to establish meaningful communication with him.
.
At approximately 9:10 p.m., SWAT officers moved to take Gilbert into custody. Police deployed a distraction device and multiple less-lethal weapons during the attempt. According to IMPD, Gilbert then moved toward the SWAT officers and made contact with an officer's ballistic shield while still armed with the machete.
.
IMPD Lieutenant John Perkins fired his department-issued weapon at Gilbert, striking him at least once. Officers and emergency medical personnel provided treatment before Gilbert was transported to a hospital in critical condition. He subsequently died from the police gunfire.
.
Multiple IMPD officers had activated body-worn cameras during the encounter. IMPD subsequently released an edited critical-incident video incorporating body-camera footage from the fatal confrontation.
.
The shooting triggered separate investigations by IMPD's Critical Incident Response Team and Internal Affairs Unit, along with review by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office and the department's civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
John Perkins was the IMPD SWAT officer who fired the fatal shot at Gilbert. IMPD identified Perkins following the shooting and reported that he was a lieutenant and a 28-year veteran of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. He was placed on administrative leave following Gilbert's death.
.
Perkins' involvement is especially significant because this was a prolonged mental-health intervention rather than an unexpected street encounter. IMPD had responded to the same home repeatedly over three days concerning Gilbert's deteriorating mental state, and the final operation involved SWAT personnel, crisis negotiators, a psychologist, less-lethal weapons and a ballistic shield before Perkins used deadly force.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/man-dead-after-officer-involved-shooting-on-the-northwest-side
https://www.wfyi.org/wfyi-news/2023-10-08/impd-releases-video-fatally-shot-man-kendall-darnell-gilbert
https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/1-person-in-critical-condition-following-impd-officer-involved-shooting-on-the-northwest-side-of-indianapolis
https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/impd-releases-bodycam-footage-of-august-shooting-killing-40-year-old-kendall-gilbert
https://www.wrtv.com/neighbors-react-after-witnessing-man-with-machete-get-shot-by-impd