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    • Man arrested after being shot by IMPD officer acquitted on weapons charge
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    Man arrested after being shot by IMPD officer acquitted on weapons charge

    Harry Posted on

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    INDIANAPOLIS — Mar-Kel Sampson, who was shot by an off-duty Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer in 2023, was found not guilty Tuesday of several charges related to the incident that led to the shooting outside a bar.

    Roman Ervin-Williams, an off-duty officer in Indianapolis, was accused of opening fire at the Sampson business after witnessing an argument between two groups that turned into gunfire, according to court documents.

    Sampson was charged by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office with use of a deadly weapon, recklessness and pointing a firearm in connection with the Oct. 18, 2023, shooting at Bubbaz Bar & Grill. 10030 E. Washington St. Three people were injured by bullets in the incident that took place on October 14, 2023.

    A jury found Sampson not guilty of all three charges after a two-day trial in Marion County court this week.

    Shooting at Bubbaz Bar & Grill

    Around 1:55 a.m., shortly before the business closed, police said they witnessed Sampson leaving the building with two other people while arguing with another group. According to court documents, Officer Williams attempted to deescalate the situation when gunshots rang out from behind him.

    Police said when he turned around and people started running away, Sampson suddenly bent down with what appeared to be a firearm in his hand, according to Williams’ statement to police in court documents.

    Sampson then began to raise his hands, which led Williams to shoot Sampson “to protect himself and others,” according to court documents.

    That’s when Williams ran to his vehicle to get more ammunition after accidentally hitting the magazine of his firearm while activating his body-worn camera. He then told Sampson to drop his gun.

    That’s when Sampson told Williams, “I don’t have a gun.”

    Williams handcuffed Sampson and called for emergency medical personnel to treat Sampson’s gunshot wound.

    Following the shooting, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department had its critical incident response team investigate the attack by Williams, who was a 16-year veteran of the Indianapolis police department at the time.

    Williams has since returned to full duty.

    In late November 2023, a Marion County judge approved the Marion County District Attorney’s Office’s motion for a protective order prohibiting anyone from accessing body camera footage from the night of William’s shooting.

    That order blocked the police department’s ability to create what they call critical incident video, an edited summary of every Indianapolis officer shot that compiles body camera footage.

    After Sampson’s not guilty verdict, the prosecutor’s office announced that the protection order would be lifted. Indianapolis police said the department will work on the video when it happens.

    Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at [email protected] or follow him at X @1NoePadilla.

    Harry
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