Judges’ Shooting Suspects To Go free After Prosecutor Declines To File Charges

IL for www.theindianalawyer.com

The two suspects arrested in connection with the shootings of two Clark County judges will soon go free after being released from their bonds Friday afternoon.

Marion Superior Criminal Court 2 Judge Shatrese Flowers told Brandon Kaiser, 41, and Alfredo Vazquez, 23, that they were released as to their bonds of $200,000 and $60,000, respectively, that were set after their arrest in connection with the shootings of Clark Circuit Judges Andrew Adams and Bradley Jacobs. The release came just after the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced it would not file charges against Kaiser and Vazquez at this time.

“We have received the results of the investigation conducted to date, including video retrieved from surveillance cameras,” said a statement released by the office and attributed to Prosecutor Terry Curry. “At this time, we have determined that additional investigation must be completed before we can make a charging decision in the matter.”

Adams and Jacobs were shot in the early morning hours of May 1 outside a White Castle restaurant in downtown Indianapolis. The two southern Indiana jurists were in Indianapolis for a judicial conference.

Days later, Indianapolis police arrested Kaiser and Vazquez for their alleged roles in the shootings. The two appeared in Marion Superior Court at 1 p.m. Friday, where they were expected to be formally charged after appearing for a bond hearing Wednesday. The court hearing went on as scheduled despite the prosecutor’s office decision not to press charges.

Upon being told of their release, Kaiser, with handcuffed hands, made the sign of the cross. He was facing felony and misdemeanor charges, including attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery and carrying a handgun without a license. Vazquez was facing a felony charge for assisting a criminal.

Inquiries about the judges’ condition were referred to Jeffersonville attorney Larry Wilder, who said in an email to the Indiana Lawyer on Friday they were improving. “Both judges are still recovering in Indianapolis. They continue to improve and are looking forward to that time which their doctors feel they are ready to come home,” Wilder wrote. “No one is in a rush. They each understand that it is important to defer to their medical professionals.”

Shortly after the Friday hearing, the Indiana Supreme Court released a statement declining to comment on the charging decision.

“Respect for the process requires independent offices to do their job,” a court spokeswoman said. “It is not appropriate for the administrative office or a member of the judiciary to comment on a pending case in a trial court.