TERRE HAUTE – One man is dead after refusing to put down a gun and exit a building at US Lawns on N. Fruitridge Avenue. Police responded to a report of an armed person barricaded in the building around 7 a.m. Tuesday.
The man, whose name was not released, pointed his weapon at police and was then shot.
A press release from Indiana State Police states —
Vigo County – Detectives from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post have been requested by Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt to investigate an officer-involved shooting incident that took place on July 25, 2023, at approximately 9:00 a.m., at 1309 Fruitridge Avenue in Terre Haute.
At approximately 7:00 a.m., officers of the Terre Haute Police Department were dispatched to 1309 Fruitridge Avenue in reference to a male suspect in a storage building making verbal threats and pointing a firearm at employees. Upon locating the suspect in a storage building and seeing that the suspect did have a handgun, officers from the Terre Haute Police Department began giving loud verbal commands for the suspect to put down the weapon and exit the building. The suspect did not comply, and a perimeter was then established around the storage building.
The Terre Haute Police Department Special Response Team and negotiators were then requested to make the scene. Negotiators attempted to make contact with the suspect for approximately two hours to no avail. Unexpectedly, the suspect then exited the building on the south side and engaged uniformed officers by pointing a firearm towards them. Two officers gave verbal commands for the suspect to drop the firearm, but the commands were disregarded. Both officers then fired their police-issued weapons at the subject, resulting in the subject being shot.
Medical assistance was immediately rendered at the scene and the suspect was subsequently transported to a local hospital in Terre Haute. However, the suspect, who has not yet been positively identified, succumbed to the injuries. An autopsy has been scheduled by the Vigo County Coroner’s Office.
The two officers from the Terre Haute Police Department involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is customary in officer-involved shootings.
The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives, Don Curtis, Jason Schoffstall, Ryan Winters with the assistance of First Sergeant Brian Maudlin, Sergeant Michael Featherling, CSI Sergeant Brandon Mullen, CSI Sergeant Tim Rader, and Sergeant Michael Organ of the Putnamville State Police Post.
This is an active and ongoing Indiana State Police investigation. There is no further information to release at this time. Upon completion of their investigation, Indiana State Police detectives will submit a full report of the incident to the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Indiana State Police are investigating a police shooting in which one man was killed in Terre Haute on Tuesday morning.
Terre Haute police responded to an armed, barricaded person at a North Fruitridge Avenue business about 7 a.m.
The suspect, who pointed a gun at two Terre Haute police officers, was shot by the officers and died from his injuries. No names have been released at this time.
Indiana State Police are investigating at the request of Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt, according to an ISP news release.
The incident took place at U.S. Lawns, 1309 North Fruitridge Ave.
Terre Haute police were dispatched to the business after a male suspect in a storage building made verbal threats and pointed a firearm at employees.
Upon locating the suspect in a storage building and seeing that he did have a handgun, Terre Haute police began giving loud verbal commands for the suspect to put down the weapon and exit the building.
The suspect did not comply, and a perimeter was then established around the storage building.
The THPD Special Response Team and negotiators were called in. Negotiators attempted to make contact with the suspect for about two hours without success.
Unexpectedly, the suspect then exited the building on the south side and engaged uniformed officers by pointing a firearm towards them, according to the ISP news release.
Two officers gave verbal commands for the suspect to drop the firearm, but the commands were disregarded. Both officers then fired their police-issued weapons at the subject, resulting in the suspect being shot.
The man, who was treated on scene and taken to a Terre Haute hospital, died from his injuries.
An autopsy has been scheduled by the Vigo County Coroner’s Office.
The two officers from the Terre Haute Police Department involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is customary in officer-involved shootings.
“This is an active and ongoing Indiana State Police investigation. There is no further information to release at this time,” said ISP Sgt. Matt Ames in a news release.
Once the investigation is completed, ISP detectives will submit a full report of the incident to the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
The Vigo County School Corp. was alerted to the standoff by school resource officers, who work closely with Terre Haute police.
While school is not in session, “We do have athletic teams and the band using the Terre Haute North campus for summer practice. Due to the nature of the situation and proximity to the school, VCSC administrators instructed all practices to be moved inside the school, which was then placed on lockdown. There was never an active threat to students, staff or the campus, but precautions were taken to ensure safety,” said Katie Shane, VCSC interim communications director.