IMPD identifies officer who shot and killed man after traffic stop

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department identified the officer who shot and killed a man following a traffic stop last week.

Douglas Correll is a 28-year veteran of IMPD. He has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

IMPD said police were conducting a traffic stop in the 3400 block of North Parker Avenue at about 9:40 a.m. on Aug. 3 for reckless driving. The driver fled from the vehicle with a gun in his hand, police said, resulting in a short foot pursuit. An IMPD officer fired their weapon at the man, hitting him at least once.

The man was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased after arrival. According to IMPD, the officers found a gun near the driver that “did not belong to IMPD or the officer.”

The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the driver as 49-year-old Gary Dwayne Harrell.
At a media briefing last week, IMPD Deputy Chief Michael Wolley asked for patience from the community as the investigation takes place.

“I think it’s important that we recognize that someone lost his life here today,” Wolley said. “A family has been forever changed, the community has been forever changed. And our officer, his life has been forever changed.”

The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team is conducting an investigation of the incident. The department is also conducting a separate internal investigation.

The incident marked the second time within one week someone died after an encounter with IMPD. On July 31, a cyclist was struck and killed by an IMPD vehicle.

Indianapolis faith leaders called for action this week, asking for the resignation of IMPD Chief Randal Taylor.

This story was updated.

Contact WFYI criminal justice reporter Katrina Pross at kpross@wfyi.org. 

Pross is a Corps Member of Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project.