COLUMBUS, Ind. — Two people are dead following a shooting in the 1500 block of Lafayette Avenue in Columbus late Thursday evening.
Police responded to a report of a shooting victim around 9 p.m., and found a female inside a vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police were able to remove the woman and transport her to Columbus Regional Health. The woman was later flown to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital where she was pronounced dead around midnight.
Shortly after discovering the woman, officers requested SWAT and crisis negotiators. A neighbor told police a man had gone inside the home after the shooting in the car. The law enforcement team was attempting to negotiate with the man in the house when they heard what they thought was a single gunshot. Police continued to try to get the suspect to surrender, but received no response. At one point tear gas was used to try and flush the subject out of the home.
Finally, police used a robot from the bomb squad to enter the home around 2 a.m. Upon entry, officers found a deceased male. It is not certain how the man died, but Lt. Matt Harris says no shots were fired by law enforcement.
Police released the names of the victims on Friday afternoon and they were identified as Kelly R. Baker, and Brian Mitchell, 44, both of Columbus.
