Lt Aaron Allan, of the Southport Police Department, was shot and killed while responding to a traffic incident

A police officer was gunned down while responding to a traffic crash on the south side of Indianapolis.

Lt Aaron Allan, of the Southport Police Department, was killed while responding to a call about a crash with people trapped inside a vehicle.

The six year veteran, who had more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, was shot multiple times.

The shooting happened at 2.30pm yesterday.

Southport Police Chief Thomas Vaughn said: 'Lt Allan was a hard worker and today was no different. He responded to a crash with urgency to preserve life and tragically his was lost.

'We appreciate the community support as we continue to work through the loss of our brother.'

Sgt Kendale Adams of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department told reporters at a news conference that Allan died at Eskenazi Hospital.

Adams said: 'Shots were fired by one of the vehicle's occupants, striking the Southport lieutenant.'

The six year veteran, who had more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, was shot multiple times

On Thursday night, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett called Allan's death 'a shocking and tragic reminder of the difficult, often dangerous work of police officers'

Two other officers at the scene, including one who was off-duty at the time, returned fire, striking a person inside the vehicle, Adams said.

That person and a second person injured in the crash were hospitalized and in custody with non-life-threatening injuries. Police did not release their names or discuss a motive for the shooting.

On Thursday night, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett called Allan's death 'a shocking and tragic reminder of the difficult, often dangerous work of police officers.'

The 38-year-old father was called to the traffic incident at around 2.30pm on Thursday

Sgt Kendale Adams of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department told reporters at a news conference that Allan died at Eskenazi Hospital

He said the community grieves for the Allan family.

Neighborhood resident Bryan McGary told WXIN-TV the shooting was unusual for the area.

'It's just hard to believe that this would happen here. I mean I've lived here since 1976 and we really haven't had much. We do have a lot of policemen in our area that live here so it's just one of those things,' McGary said.

Southport is an enclave within the city limits of Indianapolis.