April 7 (UPI) — An Indianapolis city councilor said a gunman shot more than a dozen rounds at his home, seemingly over a proposed data center for the city.
In a statement distributed by the Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday, the councilor, Ron Gibson, said his front door was shot 13 times between 12:45 and 12:50 a.m. EDT Monday while he and his 8-year-old son were home asleep.
A note was left on his doorstep that read, “No Data Centers,” he said.
Neither he nor his son was injured.
“Just steps from where those bullets struck is our dining room table, where my son had been playing with his Legos the day before. That reality is deeply unsettling,” he said. “This was not just an attack on my home, but endangered my child and disrupted the safety of our entire neighborhood.”
Specifics about the law enforcement response have not been made public. In his statement, Gibson thanked the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI and Homeland Security for their efforts in the investigation.
Gibson, who represents Martindale-Brightwood, has been a supporter of a Metroblocks data center proposed to be built in his district that has drawn strong opposition over pollution, noise, water use, power demand and other potential concerns.
Last week, the Metropolitan Development Commission approved the project, with final approval now to be voted on by the City-County Council.
Council President Maggie Lewis said the entire council was “deeply disturbed and heartbroken by the violent act” that “represents an alarming and unacceptable escalation.”
“This act of intimidation strikes at the heart of our values. No elected official — or any resident of Indianapolis — should ever fear for their safety because of their public service or policy positions,” she said in a statement, urging anyone with information about the incident to cooperate with law enforcement.
“We stand in unwavering solidarity with Councilor Gibson and his family during this troubling time.”
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