VERMILLION COUNTY — The suspect in the officer-involved shooting on February 24, 2023, has been placed under arrest.
Justin T. Henry, 46, of Urbana, Illinois, was released from an Indianapolis hospital on March 27, 2023, and was taken into custody by the Indiana State Police upon his release. Henry has been transported to the Vermillion County Jail where he is now incarcerated and being held without bond until the initial hearing.
Justin T. Henry, 46, Urbana, Illinois, was charged with two counts Attempted Murder.
At approximately 6:55 p.m., on Feb. 24, a pursuit entered into the state of Indiana from Danville, Illinois. Officers with the Danville Police Department attempted to stop a passenger vehicle due to a traffic violation. The passenger vehicle disregarded the emergency lights, not stopping for the officers, and a pursuit then ensued entering into the state of Indiana. Danville officers requested information on the license plate of the pursued vehicle and discovered the owner of the vehicle was wanted for attempted murder.
The pursuit entered Vermillion County, Indiana, on State Road 32 traveling southbound on State Road 63 into the town of Newport. It continued onto several county roads leading to State Road 71, until the pursued vehicle became disabled and came to a stop on State Road 71 near County Road700 South, at a residence near Dana, Indiana. Several police agencies from Indiana had joined in the pursuit.
Once the pursued vehicle came to a stop, the driver stepped out and opened fire at the officers. Deputy Joey Wilson, a five-year veteran with the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department was struck and injured. Officers returned fire at the suspect and immediately provided medical assistance to Deputy Wilson.
The suspect ran east towards the residence’s barns, jumping over a fence evading the police. Officers set up a perimeter around the area. Suddenly, a farm truck came driving out through closed barn doors towards the officers. Officers fired at the oncoming truck, striking the suspect. Medical assistance was immediately rendered to the suspect at the scene. He was transported to Union Hospital in Clinton, by ambulance, and then transported to Indianapolis by air ambulance for further care.
Deputy Wilson was shot in the leg and foot. He was taken to a local hospital by ambulance and is scheduled to have surgery today.
The suspect was identified Henry. Further investigation revealed that Henry had an active warrant for his arrest for attempted murder that was issued on February 7, 2023, out of Champaign County, Illinois.
All officers involved in this incident were placed on administrative leave, which is customary in officer-involved shootings. Vermillion County deputies involved are Deputy Joey Wilson, Deputy Keith Warner, and Deputy Chad Hennis. Parke County Deputy Shawn Clover, Fountain County Deputy Ethan Stonebraker, Rockville Police Department Officer Ian Redman, as well as Master Trooper Charles Murphy of the Indiana State Police.
Agencies involved in this incident were the Indiana State Police, Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department, Parke County Sheriff’s Department, Fountain County Sheriff’s Department, Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, Rockville Police Department, as well as the Danville Police Department out of Illinois.
The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives, Jason Schoffstall, Don Curtis, Michael Featherling, Ryan Winters, and Angie Hahn, with assistance from Lieutenant Jeff Hearon, First Sergeant Brian Maudlin, CSI Lieutenant Jim Cody, Sergeant Michael Organ, and Sergeant Tim Rader of the Putnamville State Police Post.