Suspect in connection with investigation into shooting of police officer appears in court

INDIANAPOLIS – A 20-year-old man connected to the investigation into the shooting of an IMPD officer last Friday night made his first court appearance Monday.

Antione Jones is charged with resisting arrest and reckless driving after allegedly leading police officers on a 110 mph chase on East 38.^th Street early Saturday morning, three and a half hours after an officer was injured while investigating a shooting in East 36^th and Wittfield Street.

“A man walking down the street said it was his sister’s house that was shot at, and we didn’t know yet that the police officer had been shot,” a neighbor told FOX9/CBS4.

Jones and Jeffrey Bowling, 21, were arrested after their silver Kia sedan left the sidewalk and into a ditch near the Amber Woods Apartments south of 38.^th Street on North Mitthoefer Road.

A probable cause affidavit reviewed by FOX59/CBS4 states that Bowling matched the description of the vehicle’s occupant and ran into a woman’s row house near John Jay Drive and then left before being arrested.

Near the place where he was arrested, police found a nine-millimeter Glock pistol and an AK47 magazine.

According to sources, it was suspected that there were additional firearms in the Kia and that they were stolen on April 36.^th and the Wittfield shootings.

About 30 minutes later, Jones surrendered to a police officer, saying “I surrender,” in a neighborhood south of the apartment complex, according to court documents.

According to court documents, his clothes were wet, possibly because he had walked through the ditch where the Kia came to a stop.

Jones’ most recent release papers from the Indiana Department of Correction, where he began serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for an armed robbery in Jackson County on June 26, listed an address in the complex.

At his first appearance, Jones was told he was charged with resisting police and reckless driving. He requested the assignment of a public defender because he had not been employed “for two years,” according to court documents. This would have coincided with his prison sentence.

Jones was held on $4,000 bail on the stalking charges, but faces a sentence of no bail until this weekend for an alleged probation violation resulting from an arrest within a month of his release from prison.

He will appear in court again Thursday morning to face the stalking charges, while a hearing on the probation violation charge has not yet been set.

Bowling is charged with resisting arrest and trespassing, but is released on $500 bail.

Outside the courtroom this morning, Jones’ family said they had no comment and did not know why he was arrested or whether he was connected to the officer’s shooting.

No one is charged with shooting the unidentified police officer, who is recovering from injuries to his stomach and arm and remains hospitalized.

Sources indicate that the unknown shooters may have fired at the house on East 36^th Street and targeted a house guest who was not present at the time.

A resident told FOX59/CBS4 that this is not the first time gunmen have shot at homes in the neighborhood.

“It seems like there are constant shootings here, you hear them every night,” he said.

About 150 feet west of the intersection, crime scene tape is still visible on a house, marking the possible location of the gunman who fired at officers as they searched the sidewalk for dozens of shell casings.

Neighbors said IMPD investigators requested private security camera footage to identify the shooter and vehicle, but at that point officers immediately sent through a description of a silver Kia sedan.

After reporting no progress in the investigation over the weekend, IMPD issued the following statement Monday morning:

The IMPD officer who was shot in the line of duty Friday night remains in good spirits and on the road to recovery. However, he will remain in the hospital for several more days as he continues to heal and get stronger. Our department continues to pray for him, his family, and everyone involved in this incident, and we ask that you do the same.

No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting during the investigation. Following a chase involving a possibly related vehicle, two people were arrested on other charges, including resisting police. Investigators are still working to determine the connection between that vehicle and those people and the investigation into the officer shooting, if there is one.

Much information has been shared in the media from unofficial sources, which is disappointing given the sensitive nature of this case. We will update the media with updates when appropriate and confirmed. These investigations take time, and we will not share any information that could jeopardize our ability to seek justice for our officer or a victim.

Should there be a significant breakthrough or arrest in this case, we will notify you as soon as possible.

Indianapolis Police Department