A 32-year-old Crown Point woman is facing attempted murder and multiple felony battery charges after authorities say she ran down her husband with her car and then stabbed him in a courthouse parking lot moments after the couple's divorce hearing ended. Adriana Cisneros-Velazquez remains held at the Lake County Jail following the Monday afternoon attack, which unfolded in front of the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point.
According to court documents cited by Region News Source, the confrontation happened at roughly 3:15 p.m. on Monday, August 24, right after Cisneros-Velazquez's husband walked out of divorce court. As reported by CBS Chicago, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said a witness indicated the incident occurred just after 3 p.m., with a witness also telling investigators the man and woman were believed to be in a domestic relationship.
Video Shows Car Waiting, Then Accelerating
Court records show surveillance video from the southeastern part of the parking lot captured a gray Honda waiting until the victim's motorcycle came to a stop before accelerating directly at it, per the same account from Region News Source. The car dragged the motorcyclist a short distance before striking an obstacle in a grassy area and becoming disabled. CBS Chicago reports the woman then chased the motorcyclist after he was knocked off the bike, and court records note she got out of the vehicle armed with a knife to continue the attack.
The motorcyclist fought back against her, and both the man and woman were taken to an area hospital for evaluation afterward, according to CBS Chicago. When investigators tried to question Cisneros-Velazquez at the hospital following the incident, she was advised of her rights and invoked her right to remain silent, declining to give a statement, the report notes.
Five Felony Counts Filed in Lake Superior Court
Prosecutors filed five felony counts against Cisneros-Velazquez on August 25: Level 1 felony attempted murder, a Level 3 felony count of attempted aggravated battery posing a substantial risk of death, a Level 3 felony count of attempted aggravated battery causing serious permanent disfigurement, and two Level 5 felony counts of domestic battery with a deadly weapon, according to Region News Source. CBS Chicago's earlier report had described the charges as felony attempted murder along with two counts each of attempted aggravated battery and domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon.
The exposure tied to those charges is significant. Under Indiana Code § 35-50-2-4, a Level 1 felony conviction carries a fixed prison term of 20 to 40 years, with an advisory sentence of 30 years and a fine of up to $10,000, according to Justia Law. Level 3 felonies carry 3 to 16 years with a 9-year advisory sentence, while Level 5 felonies carry 1 to 6 years with a 3-year advisory sentence, per the Gibson Law Office.
Case Fits a Documented Rise in Local Domestic Violence Cases
The Lake County Government Center at 2293 N. Main St. serves as the county's seat of civil and criminal courts and also houses the Lake County Jail, which has a general capacity of 1,085 inmates, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Department. Cisneros-Velazquez remains in custody there as the case proceeds through Lake Superior Court.
The attack lands amid a documented rise in domestic violence reports across the county. A regional crime analysis published in August 2026 found that reported domestic violence incidents in Lake County rose 15% over the prior year to 457 total cases, with physical violence making up 62% of those incidents, according to NW Indiana Local News. Local experts cited economic pressures and partner disputes among the contributing factors.
That local surge mirrors a strained statewide support system. In May, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported a $6 million federal funding deficit that forced the state's domestic violence organizations to turn away 3,427 shelter requests — 68% of all requests — in 2025 due to resource constraints, according to The Statehouse File. Advocates have warned that the shortfall leaves victims in high-risk situations without adequate resources.
State Lawmakers Have Weighed Tougher Safeguards
During the 2026 legislative session, Indiana lawmakers evaluated several domestic violence measures, including House Bill 1299, which would restrict firearm possession for people convicted of domestic battery, according to WTHR reported. That effort followed the 2025 failure of a separate bill that would have required GPS tracking for domestic violence suspects released on bail.
It remains unclear whether Lake County officials will review courthouse parking lot security following the attack, and further details on the victim's medical condition and any pretrial detention ruling have not yet been made public. Cisneros-Velazquez's case is continuing to move through Lake Superior Court as prosecutors pursue the five felony counts filed against her.
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