Officer Timothy Jacob "Jake" Laird

Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 2700 block of Dietz Street on Indianapolis' southside after multiple calls were received at the Indianapolis 911 Center.

As the first officer arrived, he radioed to dispatch that he was under fire. Having been struck in the abdomen and leg while still in his car, he put his car in reverse and backed away until his vehicle was stopped by a fence post. There, he was rescued by other officers

Concerned that an ambulance could not safely enter the area, an Indianapolis fire crew drove into the scene in their fire apparatus and then transported Officer Conley to the hospital aboard the apparatus.

As Officer Laird and another officer drove into the scene, they also came under fire. As Officer Laird exited his patrol vehicle, he was fatally wounded when a round hit him high in the chest just above his protective vest. The other officer then drove Officer Laird to Troy Avenue, from where he was transported to Wishard Hospital. Officer Laird was pronounced dead moments after his arrival.

The shooter continued to walk down an alley and through the parking lot of a local church onto Tindall Street brandishing a rifle with a large ammunition clip. He came upon three officers near the corner of Tindall and Gimber Streets. The suspect then took cover behind a Jeep and fired several rounds at the officers. One officer was hit in the arm. Another in the hand. And the third was hit in the knee. One of the wounded officers, who was a SWAT Team member, returned fire and delivered fatal shots to the suspect's head and chest.

Later, when officers entered the suspect's home, they found that he had fatally shot his 66-year-old mother.

The other officers survived their injuries.

Officer Laird was laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery. His badge number (2479) and car number (C421) were retired, and he was posthumously awarded his department's Medal of Honor and Purple Heart.

Officer Laird had served in the Marine Corps for eight years before joining the Indianapolis Police Department on March 6, 2000.