Police have released video showing a man swinging a bat at a police officer before he was fatally shot outside a federal courthouse in southern Indiana.
Evansville police on Wednesday released security video showing 55-year-old Ricky Ard smashing two windows in the courthouse doors Tuesday, along video from an officer's body camera. That video shows the officer trying to hit Ard with a stun gun before the black man charges at the officer with the bat. The officer then moves back and fires about a half-dozen shots.
Evansville police spokesman Sgt. Jason Cullum said during a news conference it appears the officer acted appropriately to defend himself.
Police say Ard had been escorted the federal building Monday after expressing "concerns about the government." Cullum declined to specify those complaints.
WARNING: the videos posted below contain graphic content.
Source: @EvansvillePD Video of front of fed bldg during Tue shooting pic.twitter.com/t0FyI2j3ke — WNINnews (@WNINnews) August 30, 2017
Source: @EvansvillePD Video of front of fed bldg during Tue shooting pic.twitter.com/t0FyI2j3ke — WNINnews (@WNINnews) August 30, 2017
Source: @EvansvillePD Video of front of fed bldg during Tue shooting pic.twitter.com/t0FyI2j3ke — WNINnews (@WNINnews) August 30, 2017
Police said earlier on Wednesday the stun gun was "ineffective" against Ard.
Ard was pronounced dead Tuesday outside the courthouse.
A small crowd of people gathered outside the building on Wednesday morning to protest the shooting, leaving behind signs and chalk messages. By Wednesday afternoon officials had cleared away the messages.
It's definitely getting darker on the beach. pic.twitter.com/ueUFYM5Auh — Barbara Brosher (@BabsofBtown) August 21, 2017
It's definitely getting darker on the beach. pic.twitter.com/ueUFYM5Auh — Barbara Brosher (@BabsofBtown) August 21, 2017
This post has been updated. WNIN contributed to this post.