Indianapolis councilman says shots fired at home and 'No Data Centers' note left at door

By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Indianapolis councilman says shots fired at home and 'No Data Centers' note left at door Nation Apr 7, 2026 2:11 PM EDT INDIANAPOLIS — 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. WATCH: Electric grid faces political roadblocks as it struggles with data center demand 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 ev...