One dead after officer involved shooting in Evansville

EVANSVILLE, In. (WEHT) – Evansville Police confirms a standoff between a male suspect and officers on the 500 block of Lewis Avenue leads to the suspect being shot and killed.

Detective Anna Gray confirms officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Lewis Avenue in reference to “suspicious circumstances” around 5:15 p.m..

She says a male called and wanted officers to “take care of a problem” and if they did not comply he would “take care of it himself.”

Gray says the first officer on the scene spotted the suspect with the firearm on the 500 block of Lewis Avenue, and the suspect allegedly pointed his gun at the officer.

The suspect supposedly retreated through a back alley on the block, shot off several rounds and pointed the gun back at the officers.

She says the officers at the scene fired their weapons and eventually hit the suspect.

Gray says this is being classified as an “officer-involved shooting.”

She says the intersection of Lincoln and Lewis as well as Walnut and Lewis had to be shut down due the proximity of the scene, which is now open since the area has been deemed safe.

While there were no injuries to police, Anna says the officers involved in the scene will be taken to the hospital for a blood draw and be met with a peer support team before being given three days off.

Officer Taylor Merriss confirms the suspect has died. The identity of the suspect will be handled by the coroner’s office.

This is currently under investigation and we will update as more information becomes available.

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