Indianapolis has suffered its second line in the duty death of a police officer with the murder this morning of Butler University Police Officer James Davis, reports the Indianapolis Star:
A Butler University Police Department officer was shot and killed this morning in the parking lot at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and his suspected assailant was shot less than three hours later a short distance away.
The officer, who university officials identified as James Davis, 31, was pronounced dead at 11:08 a.m. from a single gunshot wound to the head. He had been with the Butler police since January, 2003.
Police set up a perimeter from 46th Street to 49th Street between Sunset Lane and Boulevard Place as they searched for the suspect, who fled the scene of the 10:30 a.m. shooting on foot.
At 12:45 p.m., police engaged the suspect in the 4400 block of North Illinois Street. The suspect was shot and has been transported to Wishard Memorial Hospital.
Police late this afternoon identified the suspect as Kahdir Al Khattab, 26. He was in critical condition.
Al Khattab had been wanted on an arrest warrant for battery.
I’ll point out that Officer Davis was a year ahead of me at Indiana University. While I do not recall his name – his face is familiar to me. Perhaps I knew him – perhaps we took a class together – perhaps not. But I feel his loss nonetheless.
RIP Officer James Davis….