Photographers Shot While Covering Indianapolis House Fire

INDIANAPOLIS --

A photographer from WISH-TV and a freelance photographer were shot Friday morning as they covered a vacant house fire on Indianapolis' east side.

Both photographers were taken to Methodist Hospital, where they were treated and released.

The Indianapolis Fire Department was called to a home in the 800 block of North Tacoma Avenue at about 2 a.m.

Indianapolis Metro police officers were at the scene to block traffic, when the two photographers were hit by gunfire just before 2:30 a.m.

"(Officers were) very close, but it was very noisy and they didn't hear anything," said Indianapolis Metro police Sgt. Paul Thompson. "There was a small crowd of people just to the west of the fire scene, and they believe -- whatever weapon was used came from that area."

The WISH-TV photographer was struck in the back and the freelance photographer was hit in the arm.

A firefighter's air tank was also believed to have been hit by a bullet, but there was no report of injury or damage.

Detectives said the photographers were hit by bullets from a .22-caliber gun.

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