A judge in Indiana and his wife are recovering in hospital after being shot outside their family home on Sunday afternoon, in an attack that has sent shockwaves through the state's legal community.
The Attack and Immediate Aftermath
Judge Steven Meyer of Tippecanoe County Superior Court No. 2 and his wife, Kimberly, were both struck by gunfire shortly after 2:17pm local time on Sunday. The shooting occurred outside their residence in Lafayette.
Police officers responding to the scene found the couple with gunshot wounds. Judge Meyer had been hit in the arm, while Kimberly Meyer sustained a wound to her hip. Emergency services transported both to a medical facility for urgent treatment. The Lafayette Police Department has since confirmed the pair are listed in stable condition.
Investigators discovered spent shell casings at the scene. As of Monday, authorities have not disclosed a potential motive for the attack and have not publicly identified any suspects.
A Major Multi-Agency Investigation Underway
The Lafayette Police Department is leading what has become a significant inquiry, drawing in support from a wide array of law enforcement bodies. These include:
- The Indiana State Police
- Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office
- West Lafayette Police Department
- The county prosecutor's office
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
In a statement released on Monday, Kimberly Meyer expressed her gratitude to the first responders and medical teams who treated her and her husband. She also stated she had 'great confidence' in the investigators working on the case.
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski condemned the 'senseless' shooting and pledged that 'every available resource' was being directed towards finding those responsible.
Judicial Security Concerns Raised Statewide
The violent incident has prompted serious concern about the safety of judges and their families across Indiana. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush wrote to judges statewide, expressing relief that the Meyers survived but underscoring her deep worry about threats to the judiciary.
'I worry about the safety of all our judges,' Justice Rush wrote. 'As you work to peacefully resolve more than 1 million cases a year, you must not only feel safe, you must also be safe. Any violence against a judge or a judge's family is completely unacceptable.' She urged her colleagues to take their personal security seriously.
Court officials confirmed that discussions are in progress to arrange temporary coverage for Judge Meyer's judicial duties while he recuperates. Judge Meyer, a long-standing fixture in the Lafayette legal community, was elected to the bench in 2014. His career includes service on the Lafayette City Council—where he once served as president—and nearly three decades in private legal practice.
