Man Arrested after Firing Handgun during Halloween Party

The incident occurred at a residence located in the 4600 block of Huebner Lane on Saturday, October 31, 2015 around 11:00 pm. The incident was not reported to the Sheriff’s Office until the next morning, when one of the party-goers told a parent what had occurred.

One of the witnesses explained that the teenage children of the homeowner were asking around fifty people who were in the basement of the home to leave, but were not having much success. A friend of the homeowners’ children, Mr. Ryan Anthony Loehrlein, then produced a handgun and began to point the weapon at the crowd of people. The witness indicated that no one thought the gun was real until Mr. Loehrlein discharged the handgun into the ceiling of the basement. The witness reported that the crowd quickly exited the basement and that Mr. Loehrlien again pointed the weapon at the crowd as they fled.

An examination of the scene on Huebner Lane revealed a bullet hole in the ceiling of the basement. The bullet penetrated the floor of the upstairs level and entered a closet near a bathroom. Several items in the closet were damaged by the expended round as it traveled upward.

Deputies located Mr. Loehrlein at his residence and interviewed him about the incident. After making a series of self-incriminating statements, Mr. Loehrlein was placed under arrest. The handgun, a .357 magnum revolver, was recovered at another location.

The incident remains under investigation as the Sheriff’s Office anticipates additional witnesses and victims to come forward.

ARRESTED:

Ryan Anthony Loehrlein (pictured above), 21*, of Evansville. Criminal Reckless with a Firearm as a Level 5 Felony, Pointing a Loaded Firearm as a Level 6 Felony, Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon as a Level 5 Felony

*Correction – the article previously reported the age of the defendant as 19. The defendant is actually 21 years of age.