Photo posted to Facebook by Bill Wells

In the early morning hours of July 25, 2023, a tense situation unfolded at US Lawns located at 1309 Fruitridge Ave, as Terre Haute Police Department (THPD) Uniformed Officers responded to a distress call reporting an armed male inside the business. The incident led to a lengthy standoff and concluded with the suspect being injured and taken into custody.

One witness stated that workers arrived at the facility to find an unknown man in the office with a gun. They immediately left the building and called the police.

At approximately 06:59 a.m., THPD officers rushed to the scene following the report of a male individual allegedly pointing a handgun at employees within the premises. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers located the suspect inside a warehouse style building on the property. The suspect was observed brandishing a handgun.

Officers initiated verbal commands to disarm and surrender, but the suspect was unresponsive and refused to comply with their orders. Fearing for the safety of both the employees and the public, officers secured the area and formed a perimeter around the building, believing the suspect to be the sole occupant.

THPD requested the assistance of their Special Response Team, which includes trained negotiators. For over two hours, negotiators tried to establish contact with the suspect, hoping to find a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

However, despite the efforts made by the negotiators, the suspect eventually exited the building and engaged officers. According to a Facebook post made by the THPD no officers were injured during the confrontation. The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed at this time, received medical attention from the Terre Haute Fire Department at the scene. And was later transported to Union Hospital for further treatment.

As part of standard protocol, the Indiana State Police have been called upon to conduct an independent investigation into the incident. Details regarding the events leading up to the standoff, as well as the suspect’s motive, remain unclear.

Authorities have stated that the investigation is currently active and ongoing, and as such, the names of the individuals involved will not be released at this stage. Residents and business owners in the vicinity are urged to remain vigilant while law enforcement continues to gather information and assess the situation.

The THPD and the Indiana State Police are appealing to anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward and provide assistance in the ongoing investigation. Updates on the case will be released as more information becomes available.