Batesville Police Investigating Fatal Shooting; Early Indication Is Self-Defense

The incident happened Monday morning at an apartment on Arlington Drive.

(Batesville, Ind.) – A Batesville man is dead in what appears to be a possible case of self-defense.

Batesville Police responded to a domestic violence call from an apartment on Arlington Drive around 8:00 a.m. Monday.

Upon arriving at the scene, police discovered the body of a 46-year-old male that had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his chest.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the man was shot by a juvenile resident of the apartment as the man was committing a violent attack upon the juvenile’s mother while armed with a knife.

Police chief Stan Holt says that witnesses from the scene, including the juvenile alleged to have fired the fatal shot, have been cooperative with investigators.

Holt, along with Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp, agreed that because of strong evidence of the justifiable use of deadly force, neither the juvenile nor his mother should be further detained or place under formal arrest at this time.

According to Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp, under Indiana Law, a person: (1) is justified in using deadly force; and; (2) 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 (citation: I.C. 35-41-3-2(c)).

Huerkamp said he will make a final decision on whether or not his office pursues criminal charges upon completion of the investigation.