Batesville, IN — In what appears to be a possible case of self-defense, a Batesville man is dead following an early morning shooting at the Canterbury Apartments.
According to Batesville Police Chief Stan Holt, officers from the Batesville Police Department responded to a domestic violence 911 call from an apartment on Arlington Drive shortly after 8 am Monday morning.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers allege discovering the body of a 46-year old male, with the cause of death being a gunshot wound to the chest. In the initial investigation by police, it is alleged that the deceased was shot by a juvenile resident of the apartment as he was committing a violent attack upon the juvenile’s mother while armed with a knife. Chief Holt stated that witnesses at the scene and the juvenile all collaborate that the juvenile fired the fatal shot, and all have been cooperative with investigators. The name of the deceased is not being released at this time, pending notification of his immediate family.
According to Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp, under Indiana Law, a person is justified in using deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat, if that person reasonably believes that force is necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to the person, or a third person, or the commission of a forcible felony.
Although no one is currently in custody as a result of the shooting, Huerkamp said he will make a final determination on whether or not his office pursues criminal charges upon completion of the investigation. At that time, more details will be made public.
Huerkamp further emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that all potential suspects and/or criminal defendants would be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
