Indianapolis councilman says someone fired shots at his home and left a
'No Data Centers' note
[April 08, 2026]
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana politician said he and his son were
awakened when someone fired 13 shots at their front door, leaving behind
a note reading “No Data Centers” on their doorstep.
Indianapolis councilman Ron Gibson said he and his 8-year-old son
weren’t harmed in the incident that occurred around 12:45 a.m. Monday,
but the bullets struck just steps from the dining room table where his
son played with Legos the day before.
“That reality is deeply unsettling,” Gibson said. “This was not just an
attack on my home, but endangered my child and disrupted the safety of
our entire neighborhood.”
The incident comes as data centers have emerged as a target for
extremists motivated by a range of anti-tech, anti-government and
pro-environment narratives, according to Jordyn Abrams, a research
fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University.
Though the details behind the latest incident are not yet clear, Abrams
said local conversations around data centers have increasingly made them
a symbol for grievances spanning the political spectrum.
Concerns include the centers’ massive energy consumption and water
usage, which consumer advocates fear could drive up electric rates and
deplete wells. Data center developers also can strike confidential power
deals with local utilities that are profitable for utilities, making it
unclear whether center operators are paying for their electricity or are
foisting costs onto ratepayers, consumer advocates warn.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that
officers called to a home on East 41st Street just after 9 a.m. Monday
found evidence of gunshots being fired at a house, but no injuries were
reported. Police said they believe it was an isolated, targeted incident
and the FBI was assisting.
[to top of second column]
|
This photo provided by Sara Hindi, chief communications officer for
the Indianapolis City-County Council shows damage at the front door
of Councilman Ron Gibson's Indianapolis home on Monday, April 6,
2026. (Communications office for the Indianapolis City-County
Council via AP)
“I understand that public service can bring strong opinions and
disagreement, but violence is never the answer, especially when it
puts families at risk,” Gibson said on Monday. “This will not deter
me. I will continue to serve the residents of this district with
integrity and respect for all voices.”
Last week, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission
approved a rezoning petition for a project for Metrobloks, a data
center developer, in Gibson's district. Some area residents and
leaders opposed to the project attended last week’s hearing, raising
concerns about the project’s impact on the community, news outlets
reported.
Gibson supported the commission's decision in a statement last week.
“The site has remained underutilized for years, and today’s action
is an important step toward bringing it back into productive use in
a way that benefits both the surrounding neighborhood and our city,”
Gibson said. “As the district councilor, when this petition comes
before the full Council, I do not intend to call it down.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
