2 arrested after Bartholomew County shooting

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two men after Columbus Regional Hospital reported one of them had come to the emergency department with a gunshot wound.

Deputy Kevin Abner talked with gunshot victim Lesther A. Monterroso, 22, Fort Wayne, who was uncooperative and provided few details — including where the shooting occurred, deputies said. Monterroso had a gunshot wound to the shoulder, deputies said.

Detective Sgt. Chad Swank and detective Jason Williams determined that information Monterroso had provided was false and arrested him on charges of false informing and possession of a false government identification, deputies said.

Monterroso was treated and released from the hospital and is being held without bond in the Bartholomew County Jail, jail officials said.

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As part of their investigation, deputies identified a possible suspect, Ernesto Prado, 30, 10503 U.S. 31 South, Elizabethtown.

Prado told detectives that he did not know Monterroso, but Monterroso was one of four individuals who arrived at Prado’s residence Sunday morning to collect a drug debt, deputies said.

A handgun was believed to have been used in the shooting, deputies said.

Prado was arrested on charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, possession of methamphetamine and invasion of privacy, deputies said.

Prado also is being held without bond in the Bartholomew County Jail, jail officials said.

An immigration hold also has been placed on Monterroso and Prado by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible placement into the federal deportation system, deputies said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s department tip line at 812-379-1712 or contact Williams at 812-565-5928.