JURY FINDS MAN GUILTY OF  ATTEMPTED MURDER ON POLICE OFFICERS

JURY FINDS MAN GUILTY OF  ATTEMPTED MURDER ON POLICE OFFICERS

JANUARY 22, 2024

Evansville, IN – Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that on January 17, 2024, a jury, after less than 60 minutes of deliberation, found Kody Brian Schaum guilty as charged with two counts of Attempted Murder, both Level 1 Felonies; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 Felony; and Resisting Law Enforcement, a Level 6 Felony.

On May 9, 2023, Evansville Police Department officers made contact with Schaum who had an active felony warrant. As officers approached in their squad cars, Schaum was standing at the rear of a vehicle with an open hatch. In an incident that lasted seconds, officers yelled at Schaum to put his hands up. Schaum initially complied with orders but then then frantically dropped his hands to tug at his waistband while reaching behind his back for a handgun that was in the vehicle. Schaum was yelling expletives at the officers and refusing to obey the officer’s orders to show his hands. Finally, Schaum produced his handgun and racked the handgun’s slide, which meant a live round was chambered—thus taking a substantial step in shooting the officers. Officers then fired their duty weapons at Schaum who suffered non-fatal injuries and was taken into custody. 

Prosecutor Moers congratulated her Deputy Prosecutors Neil Thomas and Jeremy Kemper who expertly handled the trial. The prosecution presented body camera footage from the incident, dash camera footage, and officer testimony. 

Moers stated: “This case serves as a particularly forceful reminder that those who attempt to shoot at police officers will be held accountable. The jury in this case was able to watch the body camera and dash camera footage which proved immensely helpful to show how chaotic the scene was that day. The jury, after watching the footage, took less than an hour to convict.” 

Moers went on to explain: “While we can watch from the comfort of the courtroom, we can never fully grasp what the officers are experiencing in a life-threatening scenario. The Defendant was intent on non-compliance and chaos that day and we are very lucky both officers went home to their families and no innocent bystanders were harmed. Schaum will pay a serious price for his choices that day.”  

Prosecutor Moers extended her thanks to Evansville Police Officers Taz Cassidy, Jaylan Hyneman, Ben Gentry, Don Vonderscher, and Dave Smith. Moers also thanked her staff who assisted with the trial, including Investigators Tony Carden and Jon Carter, and legal assistants Jen Savage, Kiersten Butler, and Kennadi Hagan.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 25, 2024, in front of Judge David D. Kiely of the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court. The Defendant could receive a sentence of up to 80 years.