IMPD officer shot during struggle with Lowe’s shoplifting suspect

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis police officer was shot Sunday night on the city’s east side during a “struggle” with a shoplifting suspect, officials said.

Officers were dispatched around 7 p.m. to Lowe’s Home Improvement, located at 8801 E. 25th St., in response to the shoplifting report.

“One of our officers saw the suspect running,” said IMPD Capt. Jerry Leary. “He caught up to the suspect and they fought. During the struggle, our officer was shot.”

The shooting occurred around 7:15 p.m. in the 9030 block of Galaxy Lane, near East 25th Street and Post Road.

The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended within an hour. Officials identified him Monday as William Allen, 40, a “registered violent sexual predator” with a criminal record in at least four states.

Allen faces a preliminary charge of attempted murder in connection with Sunday night’s shooting.

The wounded officer was identified Monday as Eric Rosenbaum.

He joined IMPD in 2015 and was honored in April 2019 as “Officer Of The Month” for his work in a deadly robbery investigation.

Colleagues at the scene provided medical aid before Rosenbaum was transported to Eskenazi Hospital.

“We have some fine men and women out there who are protecting our communities every day,” Leary told reporters during a media briefing Sunday night at Eskenazi. “It is at times a dangerous — but a very, very rewarding — profession.”

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett posted a tweet following the shooting: