In Lafayette, Indiana, a community is on alert following a shooting that left Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, injured. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in their quiet southside neighborhood. Lafayette Police were called to the scene on the 1700 block of Mill Pond Lane after reports of gunfire at around 2:15 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found the couple with gunshot wounds.
Shell casings were discovered at the location, signaling a violent encounter, though additional details regarding the shooting have been sparse. As of Tuesday, the authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or suggested a motive. The investigation is vigorously continuing as detectives are actively following leads.
The Meyers were promptly transported to a nearby hospital, with Kimberly Meyer hit in the hip and Judge Meyer sustaining an arm injury. They were reported to be in stable condition. The Lafayette Police Department has emphasized that while the shooter remains at large, there is currently no perceived threat to the community at large.
The response to the shooting has seen extensive coordination between various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Indiana State Police, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Lafayette Police Department. They are utilizing all available resources to apprehend the person or persons responsible.
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski publicly addressed the attack, assuring the community of the commitment to bringing those responsible to justice. "Every available resource is being used to apprehend the individual(s) responsible for this senseless unacceptable act of violence," Roswarski stated.
Expressing gratitude for the community support and confidence in the investigation, Kimberly Meyer thanked all the involved agencies. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush, who has worked with Judge Meyer, expressed relief that the couple survived and called for heightened security awareness among her judicial peers.
The shooting has heightened unease among Indiana officials due to its occurrence amid a rise in threats against public figures, including swatting and bomb threats linked to the state's redistricting debate. However, no connection between these incidents and the Meyer shooting has been established.
Judge Meyer, who has served on the Tippecanoe County Superior Court bench since 2014, announced his plans to retire at the end of his term. His previous roles include serving as a public defender and as a member of the Lafayette City Council. His court is expected to continue functioning without disruption during his recovery.
As the manhunt intensifies, police urge anyone with information to come forward, while the community hopes for a swift resolution to this alarming act against one of its public servants.
