A long-running federal lawsuit accusing New Castle police of using excessive, deadly force in a 2023 SWAT shooting has wrapped up quietly, with both sides agreeing to end the fight before it reached a jury. The case stemmed from the October 2023 death of 59-year-old Donald Guffey Jr., who was shot during a standoff at a home in the city. The litigation, which had been pending in federal court since early 2025 and was slated for trial later this year, was formally resolved on June 20, 2026.
According to Courier-Times reporting, the federal complaint was described as "resolved amicably." The paper noted that the parties had reached an agreement to end the suit, though specific settlement terms were not disclosed. Its coverage framed the agreement as the legal conclusion of the family's civil claims against the officers named in the case.
What happened in October 2023
Indiana State Police investigators said officers responded to a "shots fired" call on Oct. 16, 2023, at a home on the 200 block of North 29th Street in New Castle. According to state police and contemporaneous coverage by WISH-TV, Guffey barricaded himself inside the house, then later came toward a front window with a firearm. Two New Castle SWAT officers returned fire, and Guffey was pronounced dead at the scene. No other civilians were reported injured, and Indiana State Police turned its findings over to the Henry County prosecutor for review.
Federal complaint and court record
Court records show the case landed in federal court in March 2025 under the caption Ralstin v. Reece, with plaintiff Kelly Ralstin naming Patrolmen Ellis Evans and Tyler Reece, along with the City of New Castle, as defendants, according to the federal docket. The U.S. District Court docket for the Southern District of Indiana reflects that the matter was removed from state court on March 31, 2025, and that a jury trial had been scheduled for September 2026 before the parties reached their reported agreement. The filings outlined civil claims tied to the officers' use of deadly force and invoked federal jurisdiction.
What the settlement means locally
The reported settlement closes the courtroom chapter for the named plaintiff and the city, even as questions linger about transparency, accountability, and any potential policy changes inside the New Castle Police Department. The Indiana State Police investigation and the Henry County prosecutor's separate review of the shooting operate on administrative and criminal tracks that are independent of any civil lawsuit, and local advocates have noted that civil settlements do not automatically lead to changes in police policy. Officials and family members did not immediately provide public comment to reporters.
Legal implications
The lawsuit proceeded under federal question jurisdiction and alleged civil-rights violations, according to the court docket. In practical terms, a civil settlement ends the plaintiff's claims without any judicial finding on guilt or liability. Whether this particular agreement includes confidentiality provisions or a broad release of claims was not reported. With the docket now cleared of the case, any further developments will likely come in the form of administrative reviews, policy decisions, or community responses that unfold outside the federal courthouse.
