Crime
Brian Elliott identified as police officer shot and killed in Beech Grove
A blue alert was just issued for Kenneth Johnson. He is wanted in connection to the shooting of two Beech Grove officers.
BEECH GROVE, Ind. — One police officer was killed and another wounded Monday evening in a shooting in Beech Grove, prompting a statewide Blue Alert and an extensive manhunt for the suspect, who remains at large.
The fallen officer has been identified as 33-year-old Brian Elliott of the Beech Grove Police Department (BGPD). A second officer, whose name has not been released, was also shot and is reported to be in stable condition and expected to survive.
The Indiana State Police (ISP) has issued a Blue Alert for 47-year-old Kenneth Terrell Johnson in connection with the shooting.
Johnson is described as a Black male, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Authorities say he was last seen wearing a royal blue sweatshirt and blue pants. His last known location was in Beech Grove, southeast of downtown Indianapolis, at approximately 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Johnson is considered armed and dangerous. Law enforcement officials are urging the public not to approach him. Anyone who sees Johnson is instructed to contact ISP’s Indianapolis District at (317) 899-8577 or call 911 immediately.
According to ISP Sgt. John Perrine, Johnson is wanted for his alleged involvement in injuring a law enforcement officer.
Police were initially dispatched at approximately 5:37 p.m. to the 100 block of Diplomat Court in response to a reported disturbance inside an apartment unit. Minutes later, at approximately 5:45 p.m., the call was upgraded to a “gunshot scene unsafe.”
Authorities allege that Johnson opened fire on two Beech Grove officers as they responded to the disturbance. The suspect then fled the area on foot, triggering a large-scale law enforcement response.
Around 6:10 p.m., the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) shut down Emerson Avenue from Churchman Avenue to Interstate 465 as officers searched for the suspect. Residents were advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
Law enforcement deployed helicopters, K-9 units, and additional resources as part of the ongoing search.
The shooting occurred near Beech Grove High School, prompting an immediate lockdown of the campus. Although classes had already been dismissed for the day, students were still on site for after-school activities, including sports practices.
School administrators confirmed that all students and staff who were present during the lockdown remained safe and were later reunited with their families. In a statement, school officials indicated that law enforcement had searched and cleared the building.
Beech Grove City Schools plans to hold in-person classes as scheduled on Tuesday, pending any updated guidance from law enforcement. Counselors and support staff will be available to assist students and staff impacted by the traumatic event.
In a message to families, school administrators expressed sympathy for the injured officers and their families and encouraged the community to support one another.
In a statement, Beech Grove Police Chief Michael Maurice confirmed that Officer Brian Elliott was fatally wounded during the response.
According to Chief Maurice, Elliott and two other officers were dispatched at approximately 6:08 p.m. to the 100 block of Diplomat Court for a disturbance. Upon arrival, Elliott and another officer were shot.
Both officers were transported to Eskenazi Hospital. Despite extensive lifesaving efforts by medical personnel, Officer Elliott succumbed to his injuries. The second officer remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Elliott had served with BGPD for two years and previously worked with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. He was described as a lifelong member of the Beech Grove community who had long aspired to serve as a local police officer.
“My heart goes out to Brian’s wife, Erin, his parents, and all of his family, friends, and loved ones,” Chief Maurice said. “At this time, I am asking that we lean on one another to get through this. We are grateful to the team at Eskenazi Hospital, and our law enforcement and community partners for their extraordinary response and support.”
According to Indiana State Police, a Blue Alert is a statewide notification system used to disseminate information when a law enforcement officer has been killed, seriously injured, or gone missing in the line of duty. The alert can also be used to provide information about suspects believed to be responsible for injuring or killing an officer.
As of the latest update, Kenneth Terrell Johnson remains at large. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.
This remains an active investigation, and additional details are expected as they become available.
Crime
Silver Rail Elementary School Shooting Suspect Identified as 16-Year-Old John Griffin, Who was shot and killed by Kaylub Giamanco
BEND, Oregon — The suspect in the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has been identified in preliminary reports as 16-year-old John J. Griffin, according to information provided for this report. Kaylub Giamanco has also been identified in the supplied account as the bystander who reportedly confronted and shot the teenage suspect during the October 15, 2026, incident.
According to a family member who spoke with Channel2 NOW, Giamanco was returning home during his lunch break when he encountered the emergency near the school, where his two daughters reportedly attend classes. He lives nearby and allegedly rushed toward the school after hearing gunshots and realizing that children, including his daughters, could be in danger.
Giamanco’s reported intervention has prompted expressions of gratitude and calls for him to be recognized for his actions. However, the suspect’s identity, Giamanco’s role and the precise sequence of events should be confirmed through official statements before being presented as established facts.
The account provided to Channel2 NOW describes Giamanco as a father who was returning home during his lunch break when the shooting unfolded. After hearing gunfire near Silver Rail Elementary School, he reportedly saw the suspected shooter moving toward or entering the building.
Because his two daughters attended the school, Giamanco allegedly ran toward the scene rather than away from it. Preliminary accounts say he confronted the suspect and shot him, and the 16-year-old reportedly died.
The supplied information does not independently establish the exact location of the confrontation, the actions of those involved immediately beforehand or whether investigators have formally confirmed Giamanco’s identity as the person who shot the suspect.
Nevertheless, the account has drawn strong emotional reactions from people who view his reported actions as an attempt to protect his daughters and other children inside the school.
Some supporters have called for Giamanco to receive a medal or other formal recognition. Any official commendation, however, would need to be confirmed by the relevant authorities.
The supplied report identifies John J. Griffin, 16, as the suspected shooter in the Silver Rail Elementary School attack. The available information describes him as a Bend resident and alleges that a shotgun was used during the incident.
The reported circumstances surrounding Griffin’s death remain an important part of the investigation. Early accounts indicate that a bystander shot the suspect during the emergency, but investigators would need to confirm the individual’s identity and establish the precise sequence of events.
The suspect’s identification and the circumstances of the shooting should be attributed to law enforcement once an official statement is available.
The October 15 shooting prompted a major emergency response and left the community grieving. Preliminary information supplied for this report indicates that four victims—three children and one adult—were killed. The suspected shooter was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
Five-year-old Rhoam Summer was identified in the supplied information as the first named victim. Two other children, reportedly ages 8 and 11, were also described as having died. An adult teacher was reported among the victims.
Two additional people—a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher—were reportedly transported for medical treatment in critical condition.
The identities of the other victims, the final casualty figures and the latest conditions of the injured people require confirmation from law enforcement or the appropriate authorities. The information available for this article does not establish that the teacher who died was killed while protecting students, so that characterization should not be presented as confirmed.
Bend police reportedly issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. on Thursday, warning the public of a major law enforcement presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and urging people to avoid the surrounding area.
Police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the campus. Nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, were reportedly placed under lockdown as a precaution.
Authorities also designated Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97 near Goodwill and Dairy Queen, as a family reunification location. Parents and guardians were directed there to reconnect with students and receive information during the emergency response.
The reported deaths of children and an adult educator have left families and the wider Bend community facing an immense tragedy. Rhoam Summer, just 5 years old, has become one of the first children named in the reports surrounding the shooting.
As the investigation continues, families are waiting for verified information and the opportunity to grieve their loved ones. Those affected by the shooting may also face a difficult period of emotional recovery.
Giamanco’s reported actions have added another dimension to the story, with supporters expressing gratitude for a father who allegedly rushed toward danger after hearing gunshots near the school attended by his daughters. His family’s experience and the well-being of his children also deserve consideration as details emerge.
🙏💔 Our thoughts are with the families of Rhoam Summer and the other reported victims, the injured child and teacher, and everyone affected by this devastating incident. May those who lost their lives rest in peace, and may their loved ones find strength and support during this heartbreaking time.