Columbus police and the Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team have released more details about a home invasion that led to the fatal shooting of Columbus resident early Saturday.
Columbus police were sent to 2025 Home Ave. shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday about a report of shots fired, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
When officers arrived, they located a man with multiple gunshot wounds inside the home.
The homeowner, 55-year-old John Noonan of Columbus, reported to law
enforcement officers that he was confronted by an unknown person with a baseball bat inside his home, Harris said.
Noonan reportedly discharged a firearm, striking the man, who was later identified as Henderson, Harris said.
Henderson was taken Columbus Regional Hospital by paramedics, where he was pronounced deceased by Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting. The coroner said Henderson was shot three times, with gunshots to the head, chest and abdomen, with Henderson pronounced dead at 1:24 a.m. Saturday at the hospital.
Investigators have determined that Noonan and Henderson did not know each other.
In other new information, Harris said law enforcement responded to Henderson’s residence at 1803 Home Ave. on three occasions on Friday, the day before the shooting.
At 11:08 a.m. Friday, Columbus police were sent to Henderson’s residence after they received a request from the Department of Veteran Affairs to assist with transporting him to the hospital. Officers were unable to make contact with Henderson at that time.
Several hours later, at 2:15 p.m., CPD officers returned to Henderson’s residence after receiving a phone call that Henderson was now there. Officers made contact with Henderson and he refused any assistance, Harris said.
At 6:21 p.m. Friday, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s department initiated a call at Henderson’s residence. CPD officers responded to assist the sheriff deputies, and left the scene when it was determined that they were no longer needed.
In additional new information, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department has opened an investigation after learning that an emergency detention order had been issued for Henderson at 4:52 p.m. Friday. This order authorized any police officer to detain Henderson for emergency treatment, according to the department.
“I am investigating the circumstances surrounding my deputies’ unsuccessful efforts to detain Mr. Henderson,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “It was after these unsuccessful efforts by my department that Mr. Henderson left his home and the tragic events unfolded.”
Myers said the department’s condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by “this tragic event.”
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
