Damon Moore, 54, faces felony charges after allegedly pointing a handgun at an elderly man and threatening to kill him during a confrontation on Massachusetts Avenue. Moore was arrested shortly afterward, and an initial hearing in his case was scheduled for Tuesday.
Court documents cited in WTHR's report place the confrontation on Oct. 21. The victim told investigators Moore had been verbally abusive toward a woman and became angrier after the victim told him to stop. According to the documents, Moore walked away briefly, then returned with a handgun and threatened to kill the victim.
The court documents say IMPD officers responded to Massachusetts Avenue after a report of an armed person. One 911 caller described two men arguing, with one threatening to shoot the other; another caller reported seeing people run and scream. The victim and witnesses identified Moore, and witnesses gave police photos and videos that allegedly showed him pointing a gun at the elderly man.
Court Documents Describe Images of Moore Aiming a Gun
Photos included in the court documents reportedly show Moore pointing a handgun at the elderly man, who was seated on a bench near his wheelchair, according to WTHR's account. IMPD arrested Moore shortly after the confrontation.
Investigators say Moore had gone to an alleged drug dealer's apartment earlier that day to obtain a gun, then returned to give it back, according to WTHR, which cited court documents. A search of the alleged dealer's apartment and car turned up two guns; the documents say one was the firearm Moore allegedly used in the confrontation.
Felony Charges and a Prior Violent-Felon Conviction
Moore faces three felony counts: unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, intimidation and pointing a firearm, WTHR reported. Police say Moore had previously been convicted of dealing narcotics as a serious violent felon. Under Indiana law, the designation applies to people convicted of committing a serious violent felony and carries additional restrictions on firearm possession.
A Separate Indiana Appeals Court Ruling
A separate case offers context on how a prior conviction can affect an unlawful-firearm-possession charge. On May 29, 2024, the Court of Appeals of Indiana reversed the denial of a motion to dismiss such a charge after finding that the prior felony supporting it had been converted to a misdemeanor. That case involved different facts from Moore's pending case.
Court documents say the confrontation was distressing for at least one bystander, who was transported to a hospital for a panic attack.
