In brief
In an alarming incident, Indianapolis councilman Ron Gibson and his 8-year-old son were nearly harmed when 13 shots were fired at their home, with the bullets striking close to where the child had played just hours before. Gibson expressed his commitment to public service despite the violent warning against data centers. Police are treating the event as a targeted attack and are continuing the investigation with the FBI's assistance.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana politician, Ron Gibson, was startled awake with his son when someone fired 13 shots at their front door, leaving a note that read “No Data Centers.” Fortunately, the Indianapolis councilman and his 8-year-old son were unharmed in the incident that occurred just after midnight on Monday.
Gibson commented on the unsettling nature of the event, noting that the bullets struck just steps from the dining room table where his son had been playing with Legos the day prior. “This was not just an attack on my home, but endangered my child and disrupted the safety of our entire neighborhood,” he stated.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to the incident around 9 a.m. on Monday, discovering evidence of gunfire but reporting no injuries. Authorities indicated that this was a targeted attack and the FBI is involved in the investigation.
Gibson emphasized that while public service may provoke strong opinions, resorting to violence is unacceptable, especially when it threatens the safety of families. “This will not deter me. I will continue to serve the residents of this district with integrity and respect for all voices,” he affirmed.
This incident raised alarm among local residents, escalating concerns regarding city safety, particularly following a recent decision by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission to approve a new data center project in Gibson’s district despite some local opposition. Gibson had supported the project, stating it would bring the underutilized site back into productive use for the benefit of the neighborhood and the city.
