The estate of an Indianapolis man who was killed during a police traffic stop in August 2019 is bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and two IMPD officers.
DeShon Downing was shot and killed by police after officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department stopped a van he was a passenger in. The vehicle was pulled over in the 8500 block of East 42nd Street in connection with an alleged drug deal, and after the driver allegedly committed a traffic violation, according to a February 2020 report by special prosecutor Mark Hollingsworth.
Right before the incident, Downing gave Officer Jereme Morris, who initiated the traffic stop, false biographical information, according to Hollingworth s report. Two other officers approached the van and one of them asked Downing to leave the vehicle, but he refused. Morris allegedly told Downing to stop reaching. A struggle ensued. Downing allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officers, and