Police officers in Evansville, Indiana, responded to a call about a suspicious circumstance on Tuesday at around 5:30 p.m. Body camera footage showed an officer walking towards the back of a home when Kyle Puckett, a 36-year-old man, pointed a gun at him. The officer called for backup and took cover.
Drone surveillance was used to locate Puckett, who was seen carrying a rifle and multiple magazines on the steps of the residence. Five officers fired at Puckett after setting up a perimeter.
It remains uncertain whether Puckett had fired at the officers. No shell casings from Puckett’s gun were found at the scene. Evansville Police still maintain that the officers had no other option but to open fire on Puckett.
Sgt. Trudy Day of the Evansville Police Department said that officers are forced to react based on suspects’ actions. “Every approach is going to be different, but again his actions are going to make our reaction. But all gloves are off if you point a loaded weapon at one of our officers,” she said.