Columbus, IN—Early Saturday morning CPD officers were dispatched to a residence on Home Avenue in regards to a report of shots fired. When officers arrived, they located a man with multiple gunshot wounds inside a home. The homeowner, John Noonan,55, of Columbus, reported to law enforcement officers that he was confronted by an unknown person with a baseball bat inside his home. Noonan reportedly discharged a firearm a short time later, striking the man, who was later identified as Derek Henderson, 38. Henderson was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital by paramedics, where he was pronounced deceased.
The Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team is continuing the investigation but has determined that Noonan and Henderson did not know each other. However, law enforcement responded to Henderson’s residence at 1803 Home Avenue on three occasions on January 3rd.
On January 3rd, 2020 at 11:08 a.m., CPD officers responded to Henderson’s residence after they received a request from the Department of Veteran Affairs to assist with transporting him to the hospital. Officers were unable to make contact with Henderson at that time.
Several hours later, at 2:15 p.m., CPD officers returned to Henderson’s residence after receiving a phone call that Henderson was now there. Officers made contact with Henderson and he refused any assistance.
In the evening at 6:21 p.m., the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department initiated a call at Henderson’s residence. CPD officers responded to assist the sheriff deputies and left the scene when it was determined that they were no longer needed.
