PO Noah Shahnavaz
Officer: Elwood Police Department, Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz
Date: 7/31/2022 Location: Madison County, IN FACTORS (1,2,4,7,8,15,21)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Carl Roy Webb Boards II
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Boards has an extensive criminal record including drug possession, battery with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and shooting at police officers for which he was convicted in 2007 of criminal recklessness and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and sentenced to 25 years. / Yes, Boards was a convicted felon unlawfully possessing a firearm when he was pulled over for a traffic violation.
Mental Illness: Yes, in a previous trial, Boards claimed to suffer from mental illness and the court cited his “failure to take [his] prescribed medications to combat” that illness.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, Boards had prior drug related arrests. / None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/42
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 2 a.m. on July 31, 2022, Elwood PO Noah Shahnavaz conducted a traffic stop on a white Buick Lacrosse being operated by Carl Boards II. PO Shahnavaz was able to transmit a radio message that the driver was armed, but he was unable to react fast enough to draw his gun out and try to defend himself.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Before PO Shahnavaz could even exit his police vehicle, Boards exited his Buick and fired at least 36 rounds from a rifle, striking the patrol vehicle’s hood, windshield, driver’s side door, and fatally hitting the officer in the head. Boards fled the scene, leaving arriving officers to find PO Shahnavaz dead.
Reactions by the police: Other officers observed Boards vehicle fleeing the area and gave chase. One officer was able to successfully place a tire deflation device in Boards path, but it did not disable his vehicle so other officers performed two Precision Immobilization Techniques (PIT), causing Board’s vehicle to crash into the guardrails and come to a halt. Board then surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident.
How murdered? PO Shahnavaz was ambushed and fatally shot during a traffic stop.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? It is extremely difficult to avoid/survive 36 rounds from a rifle, but possibly if the officer had tried to draw his gun and shoot at Boards instead of transmitting over the radio, he might have thrown off Board’s aim or even better, hit him.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? PO Shahnavaz was ambushed and never even had a chance to unholster his weapon.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Boards was captured soon after, arrested and faces charges of murder, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, resisting law enforcement, and the use of a firearm enhancement.
Miscellaneous: Boards was a career violent criminal with multiple priors for illegal possession of a weapon and yet here he was armed with a rifle and free to commit mayhem despite being sentenced to 25 years back in 2007. Criminals don’t obey gun laws and violent criminals should serve their full sentences behind bars.
