T.V. photographer & a freelancer shot while covering fire

franticscribe · Jul 18, 2008

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080718/NEWS02/80718001

The police department called for an aggressive push to catch those behind the shootings this morning that injured two photographers and narrowly missed a firefighter at the scene of a Near-Eastside blaze.

"I cannot imagine what would motivate an individual or individuals to shoot at a firefighter performing his duty to help and protect others or a photographer working to produce images for the public," Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Michael Spears wrote in an e-mail to his staff. "The firefighters face enough hazards in their duties."

The e-mail called for officers to increase patrols and probation and parole sweeps in a roughly 10-block area around the site and to talk to residents in an effort to track down the shooter or shooters, said police spokesman Jeff Duhamell.

The fire was reported at 2 a.m. at a vacant house in the 800 block of North Tacoma Avenue.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were on the scene to block traffic when about 2:30 a.m., a photographer for WISH-TV was struck in the back and a freelance photographer was struck in the arm.

Both men were taken to Methodist Hospital in stable condition.

WISH reported that its photographer, Kevin Hankins, was released. Haskins said in a broadcast interview that he was shooting the fire when he heard a pop and felt something hit his back. A medic on the scene discovered the bullet wound.

The second victim has not been identified. He was doing work for a township fire department and not severely hurt, WISH reported.
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I'm just stunned, thinking about all those late night fires and crime scenes I used to run to and never worried about something like this.

I'm relieved that it sounds like the two photographers are going to be OK.

Bubbler · Jul 18, 2008

Nice of the Star to spell the cameraman's name two different ways. Is it Hankins or Haskins?

Anyway, hope he's OK.

Armchair_QB · Jul 18, 2008

For some reason when I opened this I expected to read they had been shot by the cops while covering the fire.

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T.V. photographer & a freelancer shot while covering fire

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T.V. photographer & a freelancer shot while covering fire

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