Indianapolis Councilor Targeted in Shooting Over Data Center Project

The anti-data center movement takes a violent turn as opposition escalates across the country.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:06pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a data center server rack, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the complex hardware, conceptually representing the physical reality of data infrastructure that has become a target of growing opposition.The growing opposition to data centers has turned increasingly unhinged, as evidenced by a targeted shooting at the home of an Indianapolis councilor who supported a local project.Indianapolis Today

An Indianapolis city councilor who supports a data center project in his district woke up to the sound of 13 gunshots fired at his home early Monday morning. The gunman left a note on the councilor's doorstep that read 'NO DATA CENTERS', marking a dark escalation in the growing nationwide movement against data centers.

Why it matters

The shooting highlights the increasingly unhinged and dangerous tactics being used by opponents of data centers, which are crucial pieces of infrastructure for the modern digital economy. As cities and states across the country consider proposals for new data centers, this incident raises concerns about the safety of public officials and the potential for the anti-data center movement to turn to violence.

The details

Indianapolis Councilor Ron Gibson, a Democrat, has been a vocal supporter of a data center project planned for his district. Early Monday morning, Gibson woke up to the sound of 13 gunshots fired at his home. The gunman left a threatening note on Gibson's doorstep that read 'NO DATA CENTERS', making clear the motivation behind the attack.

  • The shooting occurred early Monday morning.

The players

Ron Gibson

An Indianapolis city councilor who supports a data center project in his district and was the target of the shooting.

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What’s next

Police are investigating the shooting and searching for the gunman. The city council is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss security measures for public officials in light of the incident.

The takeaway

This shooting is a troubling escalation of the anti-data center movement, which has become increasingly unhinged and willing to resort to violence to oppose critical digital infrastructure. It underscores the need for public officials, law enforcement, and community leaders to take the threat seriously and work to de-escalate tensions before more acts of violence occur.