A shooting occurred in a residential backyard in Evansville.
According to a news release from the Evansville Police Department, officers were dispatched to the home just after 12 pm Tuesday after the juvenile caller reported that a male against whom the woman had an active protective order had dragged her into the residence, and that the child then heard a loud bang from inside. An officer approached the home to check on the occupants' welfare, the release states, and when the front door could not be opened by hand, the officer began ordering it open while attempting to kick it in.
Per the same release, the door then opened from the inside, and the male subject pointed a gun directly at the officer. The officer fired multiple rounds at the man before retreating from the front of the home. The officer then returned to a vehicle to get the juvenile caller to safety.
Protective Order Violations Carry Added Weight Under Indiana Law
Protective order violations in Indiana are prosecuted under the state's invasion of privacy statute, Indiana Code § 35-46-1-15.1, which classifies a knowing or intentional violation as a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine, according to FindLaw. The charge can be elevated to a Level 6 felony when the offender has a prior unrelated conviction for an offense under this subsection or stalking, and protective orders issued under Indiana Code § 34-26-5 are specifically intended to prevent domestic violence and harassment.
Indiana's self-defense statute, Indiana Code § 35-41-3-2, concerns self-defense (Justia Law).
Another Fatal Evansville Police Shooting
Tuesday's shooting is not an isolated episode for the department. In June, an Evansville detective fatally shot an armed suspect in the 500 block of Colonial Avenue after responding to a reported overdose call during which the suspect pointed and fired a gun at the officer, who took cover in the front yard before returning fire until the threat was stopped, per WTHR.
Hoodline reported on a fatal West Side shooting in August that began with a 911 call from a victim's brother in the 1400 block of Delmar Avenue, after which investigators identified additional witnesses.
Domestic Calls Remain a Persistent Local Burden
Domestic-related calls are among the matters local law enforcement agencies handle.
EPD posted the release on its official Facebook page.
