1:41 p.m. update
Bartholomew County Sheriff Department has released additional information about a shooting in Hope Thursday and the capture of the suspect Friday by Franklin police.
At 10:49 a.m. Friday, sheriff’s deputies were notified that a silver Chevrolet HHR being driven by Robbie Perez, 35, Columbus, a suspect in a shooting his 36-year-old brother and 3-year-old nephew in Hope, was spotted westbound on East King St near I-65 in Johnson County.
Franklin Police Department was able to locate the vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle, said Sgt. Dane Duke, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokesman.
A vehicle pursuit ensued during which Robbie Perez was taken into custody. Robbie Perez was found to be suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chin at the end of the pursuit. He was transported to Eskenazi Hospital for evaluation/treatment. The vehicle was processed by crime scene technicians during which a firearm was located inside the vehicle.
At this time the investigation has revealed that the family dispute which culminated in the shooting centered around a long-term feud between Robbie Perez and George Perez Jr., the 36 year old victim — the two are brothers. George Perez Jr. has since been released from the hospital, Duke said. The 3-year-old victim, George Perez Jr.’s son, remains
in the hospital in critical condition, Duke said. It had previously been reported that the juvenile was 2 years old, however he is 3 years old.
At this time, Robbie Perez is under arrest on two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, Duke said.
This is a preliminary investigation. All persons are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Assisting Agencies: Hope Police Department, Indiana State Police, Columbus Police Department, Franklin
Police Department, Shelbyville Police Department, Columbus Regional Hospital EMS, Hope Vol. Fire Department, Rush County Sheriff’s Office.
12:52 p.m. update
Franklin police say the man wanted in connection to a double shooting in Hope shot himself near Whiteland following a pursuit Friday morning.
A man who police believe is the shooting suspect was found shot with a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a slow-speed police pursuit Friday. While the man’s identity hasn’t been officially confirmed, police believe it is the same suspect, Robbie L. Perez, 35, of Columbus, and his vehicle, Franklin Police Captain Scott Carter said.
Perez was taken to Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis following the shooting, and his condition was not immediately available.
Law enforcement had been seeking Perez following a shooting that occurred late Thursday in Hope, located northeast of Columbus. At 11:25 p.m. Thursday, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies were sent to the 300 block of Elm St. in Hope where they found a 36-year-old male and a 2-year-old male shot.
Perez is the brother of the 36-year-old, according to deputies.
The two victims were transported to Indianapolis by Lifeline helicopter. The man has been released from the hospital, but sheriff deputies said the child was seriously injured in the incident.
Initial investigation from Bartholomew County investigators suggested the shooting stemmed from a family dispute. Perez was identified as the suspect, and was believed to be possibly driving a silver Chevrolet HHR, deputies said.
Perez was believed to be armed and dangerous, and possibly in any of the surrounding counties around Bartholomew County and also possibly Rush County.
Franklin Police located the suspect’s vehicle in downtown Franklin sometime between 10:35 to 10:45 a.m. Friday. Officers followed the suspect for a period of time until they had enough vehicles to assist with performing a traffic stop, Carter said.
When the traffic stop was initiated, the vehicle did not stop and led officers on a slow-speed pursuit of between 40 to 50 mph as the vehicle went north on Hurricane Road out of Franklin. Law enforcement deployed stop sticks on the vehicle just north of the intersection of Hurricane Road and Earlywood Drive/East County Road 300 North, he said.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop near Hurricane Road and Whiteland Road, where the suspect — believed to be Perez —pulled out a black handgun and shot himself in the jaw. Officers immediately rendered first aid to the suspect, and he was taken to the hospital, Carter said.
Bartholomew County investigators are now taking over the scene. No officers were injured during the pursuit, he said.
Scene of the shooting in Hope late Thursday night blocked off by crime scene tape.
11:57 A.M. UPDATE
Franklin police say a suspect in a double shooting Thursday night in Hope was involved in a pursuit in Franklin at about 11 a.m. Friday morning, and after being stopped at Earlywood Drive and Hurricane Road, shot himself.
Investigators described it as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chin.
Bartholomew County Sheriff detectives are on their way to the scene and the suspect, Robbie L. Perez, 35, Columbus was taken by medics to a hospital, according to investigators.
There is no information about his condition at this time, sheriff deputies said.
A 36-year-old father and his 2-year-old son (there is some discrepancy on his age, deputies said it may be 3) were shot at 11:25 p.m. Thursday in a home in the 300 block of Elm Street in Hope.
Perez is the brother of the 36-year-old, according to deputies.
The 36-year-old has been released from the hospital, but sheriff deputies said the 2-year-old was seriously injured in the incident.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
ORIGINAL STORY
HOPE – Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies are searching for a suspect after a shooting in Hope at 11:25 p.m. in which a 36-year-old male and a 2-year-old male were shot.
At 11:25 p.m. Thursday, deputies were sent to the 300 block of Elm St. in Hope about the shooting. The two victims were transported to Indianapolis by Lifeline helicopter and their conditions are not known at this time.
Initial investigation suggests this shooting stems from a family dispute, said Sgt. Dane Duke, sheriff department spokesman.
Robbie L. Perez, 35, of Columbus has been identified as the suspect, he is possibly driving a silver Chevrolet HHR with Indiana license plate number TKQ614. Perez should be considered armed/dangerous and possibly in any of the surrounding counties around Bartholomew County and also possibly Rush County. If you have any information as to the immediate whereabouts of Perez, notify your local law enforcement. If you have any further information please contact Det. Jason Lancaster at (812) 565 – 5928.
Scene of the shooting in Hope late Thursday night blocked off by crime scene tape.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
