A man’s family is struggling to understand the events that led to him being shot by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police and the narrative released in the aftermath.
Joel Rector, 37, is accused of shooting an air rifle at his 67-year-old neighbor and responding officers who came to help the man, before one officer returned fire. He was booked into Marion County Jail on two felony battery charges April 15 after being released from Eskenazi Hospital, where he was recovering from two gunshot wounds.
In the hours after the shooting, the department shared a narrative of a suspect shooting from a second-story duplex window who may have put children in harm’s way.
Responding officers “received information that a child was possibly inside the home and in danger,” Deputy Chief of Criminal Investigations Kendale Adams also said to media at the scene. “Officers entered the home – bravely – to look for anyone injured, in danger.” Assistant Chief Michael Wolley further stated, “there are two children…that are going to be fine in that house” because of “good decisions” and “sound tactics” from officers.
Rector, officials said, was located upstairs, and detectives “found a weapon near the suspect,” promising photos, which were released later that night. Two days after the shooting, the weapon was publicly confirmed by police as an air rifle.
In court documents released after his arrest, a detective acknowledged that Rector left the home on his own.
“They didn’t go storming in,” his sister, Rebecca Fox, told IndyStar. “My brother walked out to them looking for help without even realizing they’re the ones who shot him. He came out … and went to that man asking for help … The same officer who shot him.”
As for children, Rector’s family insists that’s inaccurate.
Police would not confirm April 15 whether children were present but said early information is “preliminary and subject to change,” a caveat given at the start of most news conferences at crime scenes. Police will often give two media briefings during officer-involved shootings to update the public with information gathered in the moment.
“What’s really concerning to us is how much of the initial information put out doesn’t match what actually happened,” Fox said. “Whether that came from rushing to speak before all the facts were confirmed, miscommunication internally, or an attempt to control the narrative, the result is the same. It misled the public about a very serious situation.”
‘Didn’t even know the police were outside’
Rector’s family says he was confused about being taken into custody when he exited the home to seek help for his gunshot wounds. It wasn’t until Rector emerged from a six-hour surgery that he learned from family it was police who’d shot him, his mother said.
“The look of horror on his face. He said ‘Why? Why would they shoot me?” Tonya Rector said.
Rector told his family he didn’t know police were outside. He said he was firing his air rifle at birds to keep them away from his garden. That was reiterated in an April 16 probable cause affidavit for his arrest, where an officer who was guarding him at the hospital said he heard Rector say he “didn’t even know the police were outside,” and that he was “just shooting birds out the window with his BB gun.”
That leads his mother to question whether police announced themselves before shooting her son. Investigators said in court documents that officers used police vehicles with lights activated for cover, but Rector insisted to family he never saw them.
“All of this could have been avoided if they had only yelled out, ‘put your weapon down. This is the police,'” his mother said.
The department’s public affairs office would neither confirm nor deny whether verbal commands were given before police shot Rector and said body camera footage would be released “at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.”
Man under arrest at Eskenzai Hospital
While police and court documents have described a chaotic scene of shots fired, booms and officers ducking for cover behind ballistic shields and patrol cars, Rector said he thought his air rifle exploded, his family said.
The family acknowledged Rector may have been intoxicated, which could’ve impaired his judgement.
“Maybe he was just drunk and stupid, but he still didn’t deserve what they did,” his sister said.
Lawyer turned away from client at hospital
Court documents also outline Rector’s frustration with not being able to get details about his case from officers standing guard, being quoted as saying, “He guessed he will just talk to his lawyer about everything.”
But acting attorney, David Page, said he was turned away from seeing his client at the hospital on April 15.
“I was not aware he was being deemed a prisoner patient,” Page told IndyStar.
Page said he’s still putting together Rector’s defense, adding that “my client and the family adamantly deny the police’s narrative.” Rector’s initial court appearance scheduled for April 17.
FOP Attorney Leo Blackwell didn’t allow the officer who shot Rector to give a statement, a probable cause affidavit said.
“He did, however, leave the option open for a possible discussion at a later date,” court records concluded.
“We have no ill will to any officers,” Tonya Rector said. “Should Joel have been shooting at birds from his window? Of course not. Should he have almost lost his life over it? No.”
Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Lawyer and family of man shot by IMPD question police narrative
Reporting by Jade Jackson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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