News Release
S. Denby Shooting Update
SUMMARY
At 7:10pm tonight, officers responded to a 911 call in the 500 block of S. Denby for a person who had been shot. Officers arrived and found the victim in the front yard of 511 S. Denby. Officers attempted lifesaving measures on the victim, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Officers went to 505 S. Denby as part of the investigation. They interviewed several people who were at the address, including the person who fired the shot. During the interviews, detectives were given information from several witnesses that were consistent with the statement given by the shooter.
Investigators learned that all of the people involved in the incident were in the home at 505 S. Denby. A 17 year old female got into an argument with a 19 year old male. The male threatened to assault the girl and also threatened to use a “stun gun†on her. She ran from the house and the male chased her. He caught her in the yard and began beating her. The girl’s 79 year old grandfather was in the home and came outside to help her. He told the 19 year old male to stop beating his grand-daughter.
According to the people interviewed, the 19 year old then turned his attention to the grandfather. He threatened to use the stun gun on him as well. The 19 year old came towards the 79 year old, who was armed with a handgun. As the 19 year old got closer, he was reaching for his pocket. The 79 year old told him old several times to stop.
The grandfather told investigators he knew he could not defend himself against the bigger, younger attacker and feared the stun gun could kill him due to his heart condition. He told investigators he has a pace maker and a defibrillator. When the 19 year old continued to advance, he fired one shot. The 19 year old then ran to the front yard of 511 S. Denby and collapsed.
The gun was recovered from the home at 505 S. Denby. Investigators recovered a stun gun in the 19 year olds pocket.
The 19 year old was transported to the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office for positive identification and to establish an official cause of death.
At this time, no charges have been filed in this case. Investigators will complete a case file and forward it to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.
The name of the shooter will not be released at this time because he is not a suspect in a crime and has not been charged with any crime.
