Shots fired at home of Indiana politician who found ‘No data centers’ note

Indianapolis City Council member Ron Gibson awoke to gunshots at his home, where an attacker left a note reading "No data centers." The incident occurred after Gibson backed a divisive plan by Los Angeles-based developer Metrobloks to build a data center in Indianapolis' 8th District. No one was harmed in the shooting, but bullets entered his home, endangering his 8-year-old son. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, with FBI assistance, is investigating the incident as a targeted attack. City Council President Maggie Lewis and Rep. Andr u00e9 Carson, D-Ind., condemned the violence, calling it an alarming escalation of political disagreement. Residents of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood have protested the proposed data center for months, citing environmental concerns and fears that the facility could negatively impact a community historically affected by industrial pollution. Metrobloks CEO Ernest Popescu stated the company conducted noise studies and proposed a soil management plan, emphasizing that the development would bring jobs and $22 million in investment to the area. The company expressed shock and sadness over the shooting. Just prior to the shooting, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission voted 6-2 to approve the rezoning for the data center, despite a packed meeting where residents vehemently protested and jeered Gibson's support for the project. The incident highlights the growing national controversy surrounding data center developments, which are frequently met with strong grassroots opposition over energy consumption and environmental impacts.