Indiana police officer shoots and kills man walking along I-69

MADISON COUNTY, Ind. — A man was shot and killed by a Pendleton police officer Wednesday after law enforcement were called to Interstate 69 for a person walking on the road.

Pendleton Police and Madison County Sheriff’s crews were called around 4:30 p.m. to I-69 between State Road 9 in Anderson and State Road 38 in Pendleton for a person walking on the interstate. Officers then responded to try and help the man get off the busy street.

Indiana State Police said that upon arrival the man pulled a knife from his jacket pocket while advancing toward officers. Officers “attempted to de-escalate the situation” by telling the man to drop the knife, which ISP said he did not do.

A responding officer then reportedly used a stun gun on the man, ISP said, but was unsuccessful. This eventually resulted in a Pendleton officer drawing their gun and firing approximately one shot, striking the man.

The man was then reportedly taken to IU Health Saxony Hospital in Fishers for treatment of the gunshot wound. The man – identified as 33-year-old Blake L. Brown of Anderson – was later pronounced deceased at the hospital, ISP officials said.

ISP said no officers or uninvolved citizens were injured in the shooting and confirmed there is no active threat to the public. Detectives later recovered the knife they said Brown was holding.

INDOT said in an update around 5:30 p.m. that all southbound lanes of I-69 are closed in the area where police are investigating. ISP said around 7:15 p.m. that lanes would remain closed for approximately two hours as police officials investigated.

According to ISP officials, officers from both responding agencies were wearing body-worn cameras during the shooting incident. State Police are now looking further into what led up to the shooting and are asking the public to come forward with any relevant information.

The Pendleton officer who fired their gun during the incident has been placed on administrative leave as is standard procedure for an officer-involved shooting.

Via FOX 59