INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A day after a police shooting that wounded an officer, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released an update into the suspect’s condition and identified two teenagers who were involved in the carjacking that sparked the shooting.

The shooting happened during a carjacking just after 2 p.m. Tuesday near 16th and Harding streets, on the west side of Indianapolis.

Four male suspects were inside the vehicle when they were stopped by police. One person, who is still on the run, fled police while the officer tried to arrest the driver. Another passenger in the car got out and opened fire on the officer.

The officer was shot then returned fire. In the Wednesday update, IMPD says that the officer is currently recovering in the hospital.

Police also confirmed that the suspect who was shot is in critical condition.

IMPD identified the driver as Mahki Starks and one of the passengers as Malique Starks. Both are 19-years-old. Police did not say if the two are related.

Both have been arrested for resisting police.

“Meanwhile, IMPD is actively searching for the fourth suspect involved in yesterday’s critical incident. We urge this individual to safely turn himself in,” IMPD wrote in the press release.

Anyone with information into the police shooting or the suspect is urged to call 911or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 317-262-8477.

Previous Coverage

• IMPD: Officer, carjacking suspect shot in Indianapolis west side police shooting
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GARY, Ind. (WISH) — A man was “fatally wounded” during a police shooting in Gary, Indiana, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office says.

Monday at 7 a.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was asked to investigate a police shooting in Gary that happened at 6:40 a.m. in the 600 block of Adams Street, near the intersection of 6th Street and State Road 53.

“A preliminary investigation indicates the Gary SWAT team was conducting an operation. An adult male was fatally wounded,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office did not say what operation the SWAT team was responding to or if the man who died was involved in it.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A police officer — called a “devil” by the man they were arresting — broke their lower leg while wrestling a suspect to the ground Tuesday night.

Tuesday night around 9:30 p.m., the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says that 52-year-old Robert Sanders Jr., “without provocation,” approached a person and yanked on their beard. “An uninvolved witness confirmed this story,” IMPD said in a press release.

Officers found Sanders “pacing back and fourth while yelling at the hotel” near Jackson Place and South Illinois Street in downtown Indianapolis. The officers told Sanders to put his hands behind his back, and with a yell he retorted by calling them “devils.”

IMPD says a fight broke out between Sanders and the officers. In the wrestle, which had IMPD backup entering into the arena, officers were able to arrest Sanders, but not without injury.

One of the officers injured their ankle. After getting it checked out in the hospital, it was confirmed to be a broken fibula, the smaller of the two bones in your lower leg.

“Yesterday, two of our officers were injured in the line of duty, one who was shot, and another while trying to take someone into custody who chose to resist arrest. These incidents are clear reminders of the risks our officers face every single day. I’m grateful both are expected to recover, and I want to thank them for their courage and commitment to protecting our city,” IMPD Chief Bailey said in a press release.

Sanders arrested under three preliminary charges, including battery against a police officer.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — This year’s Indiana State Fair will feature the Indiana Grown Marketplace, offering over 500 products from 110 local businesses, giving fairgoers a chance to stock up on items produced right here in the Hoosier state.

The marketplace, hosted by Indiana Grown, provides fairgoers with a unique opportunity to support local businesses by purchasing products grown, processed, packaged, or produced in Indiana. Located in The Mercantile building — formerly the Ag/Hort building — this event showcases the diversity and quality of Hoosier agricultural products.

“The Indiana Grown Marketplace is a one-stop shop for Indiana consumers that want to support their state,” Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, said in a release.

Shoppers at the Indiana Grown Marketplace can find a wide variety of products, including bison jerky, popcorn, milk, cheese, barbeque sauce, spice blends, body care items, candles, fiber products, and more.

Samples of these products are available every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting at 11 a.m., allowing visitors to taste the local offerings before making a purchase.

Additionally, customers can purchase Indiana-themed apparel and merchandise.

“The increase in the amount of products at the Indiana Grown Marketplace over the years speaks to the dedication of Hoosier producers and the growth that this industry has seen in our state,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

The Mercantile building is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located to the right of the Midway on the west side of the fairgrounds.

Click here for more info on The Mercantile and other shopping options at the Indiana State Fair.

The Indiana State Fair returns Aug. 1 – 17 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is getting ready to welcome students back from summer break. District leaders say they are looking forward to some changes as they continue to see growth.

Superintendent Dr. Jack Parker joined WISH-TV live for Daybreak’s Morning Bell, Wednesday morning.

Parker told News 8’s Britney Noble that the district has seen steady growth.

“We’ve been growing a little over 100 students for a handful of years or so,” Parker said. “This year we’re going to grow at least 250. That’s likely going to be our new trend for a bit.”

This year, the district opened a new school — Fortville Elementary. It also reconfigured its buildings into four levels: Elementary (K-4), intermediate (5 and 6), middle (7 and 8) and high school.

According to Parker, it will cause changes to schedules and bus routes. He says it’s part of the plan to handle the increase in enrollment.

“We collaborated with our community a few years ago to develop a future growth plan,” Parker said. “We’re seeing the fruition of that…that’s pretty exciting. A lot of teachers and staff are moving among five different buildings to get ready for the school year.”

The superintendent also took note of the district’s emphasis on STEM subjects. Teachers are certified at all grade levels.

Parker says its programs utilize project-based learning, like a “walk on water” assignment for middle school students.

He adds hi staff wants to ensure students feel like they have a community at school

“Our schools are developing plans to make sure that every child is connected with something,” Parker said. “Whether it be a program, an affinity group, a sport, a teacher. So we’re really leaning into that because we feel that’s important.”

The district is also enhancing its preschool program, introducing a new program for children from birth to three years old, aimed at supporting staff members’ families.

Students at Mt. Vernon Community Schools go back to school on Aug. 6.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A scrap fire near Speedway kept dozens of firefighters busy Wednesday morning and created a large plume of black smoke that was visible from downtown Indianapolis.

Just before 9:30 a.m., multiple fire departments responded to a fire at Zore’s Inc., a tow yard and metal recycling business at 1300 N. Mickley Ave. That’s a mostly residential area off of West 16th Street and North Lynhurst Drive, about 2 miles west of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It’s not clear what started the fire, when it began, or how long firefighters will be at the scene.

Police have blocked off several roads in the area and drivers and pedestrians were asked to stay away.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Steve Allee and his big band are set to release a new album this year, following up on their previous release “Naptown Sound.” The album, called “Full Circle,” was recorded in May 2024 over three days and will be celebrated with an Aug. 9 release party at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis.

The new album is the result of a productive recording session where the band recorded 16 songs in just three days. Instead of releasing a double album, they chose to split the material into two separate albums.

“This is our interpretation of moving the music forward,” Allee said, noting the influence of Indianapolis jazz heroes like Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard. Allee also mentioned the contributions of young musicians such as Rob Dixon and the Tucker brothers.

The album includes a suite of pieces called the “Naptown Suite,” which Allee describes as “more serious in nature while still maintaining a swinging rhythm.” He says these pieces honor the mentors who guided him, with deeper harmony and rhythm.

The project features a roster of local musicians, including John Clayton, who conducted the album. The album release party will be held at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. The project received support from the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation and contributors, with Rob Dixon and David Ali playing key roles in bringing the album to fruition.

The album release party for “Full Circle” is Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis.

Shows are set for 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $45.

Click here to find out more.

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — The Greenwood Fire Department (GFD) is currently responding to a fatal plane crash that killed one person.

The department said in a social media post just after 11 a.m. that the scene of the crash is at Main Street and South Park Boulevard, just by I-65.

GFD confirmed that one person is dead. Their identity has not been released.

GFD public information officer Tyler Swardson said the plane that crashed was a small 2-4 passenger plane, but there was only one occupant at the time of the crash. He also has not confirmed what airport the plane was taking off from or landing at.

“Initial reports indicated that a small plane had crashed behind the Circle K gas station at 1183 E. Main Street in Greenwood,” Swardson wrote. “Upon arrival, firefighters found a small aircraft that had gone down directly behind the gas station. The pilot, the sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.”

News 8 reached out to the Indy South Greenwood Airport, but they will not comment on the plane crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board is on the way to the scene to investigate.

This marks the second plane crash at the same area in Greenwood. May 11, two people survived a passenger plane crash with only minor injuries.

This story has been updated with new information from the Greenwood Fire Department.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As schools across Indianapolis begin their new academic year, parents are encouraged to support teachers by providing essential classroom supplies.

Kate Baumgartner from Indianapolis Moms, and former teacher herself, emphasizes the importance of helping educators with items like tissues, sanitizing wipes, and hand soap to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of germs.

“What I like to do is before school starts, I’ll go on to the teacher’s Amazon wish list and just kind of send them little welcome gifts from my family,” Baumgartner said.

Baumgartner suggests checking teachers’ Amazon wish lists to help with classroom décor and supplies, as many of these items come out of teachers’ pockets. Basic supplies like pencils and glue sticks are always needed since students often forget or lack these essentials.

Celebrating classroom successes is also important, Baumgartner said, as many school districts lack budgets for parties and celebrations.

WISH-TV’s Gr8 Paper Push, in partnership with Teachers Treasures, is collecting school supplies to support local educators.

This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — If you’re feeling overwhelmed by credit card debt, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are in the same boat, swiping cards to cover basic needs and struggling to keep up with growing balances. But financial experts say there are ways to regain control, and it starts with a few small but strategic steps.

Jennifer Paez knows the struggle firsthand.

“I started to feel the crunch when I started to use credit cards for just daily essentials,” she said.

Like many families, rising costs and shrinking income forced Jennifer to rely on credit cards just to stay afloat.

“I knew that that was a big red flag,” she admitted.

She’s not alone. Americans owe more than $1.18 trillion in credit card debt, with the average household balance hovering around $6,000. And with many cards carrying interest rates above 20%, making a meaningful dent can feel impossible.

Consumer Reports expert Lisa Gill says one of the first things to do is hit pause on using your cards, and start where it hurts most.

“Take any extra money and pay down the debt on the card with the highest interest rate,” Gill said. “Doing that helps you save more in the long run because you’re tackling the most expensive debt first.”

If your credit score is in decent shape, consider transferring your balance to a card that offers 0% interest for an introductory period, often 12 to 18 months. Just be sure to pay it off before the regular rate returns.

Another pro tip? Line up your payment due dates with your payday to keep things on track. Some credit card companies will even let you choose your due date. And setting up auto-pay ensures at least the minimum is covered, helping you dodge costly late fees.

If you’re still struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out to your credit card company and ask for help.

“The credit card company may temporarily lower your interest rate, reduce your minimum payment, or even waive certain fees, usually for a few months up to a year,” Gill explained.

You can also turn to a nonprofit credit counseling agency. These organizations work with creditors on your behalf and can often consolidate debt into one manageable monthly payment. That’s exactly what helped Jennifer get back on track.

“They offered me a lifeline in that aspect,” she said, referring to her experience with Money Management International.

And here’s one more habit that can go a long way: carve out a few minutes each week to review your finances. Take a look at what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what’s due. It’s a simple step that can help you avoid surprises, and make smarter money moves in the long run.

For more information, click here.