RUSHVILLE – The Indiana State Police has released additional information regarding the murder/officer-involved shooting incidents which took place overnight in Henry and Rush Counties. Due to the nexus of the two crimes, the Indiana State Police has assumed the lead on both crime scenes.
The murder suspect, who later died as a result of an officer-involved shooting in Rushville, has been identified as Benjamin Petry, 34, with a last known address in North Vernon, Indiana.
The Kennard murder victim has been identified as Ivan Wade Flowers, 65, of Kennard, Indiana.
The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time. However, investigators learned Petry and Flowers were acquaintances and the shooting is not considered to be a random act of violence.
Investigators have no additional information to share at this time.
Earlier – The Indiana State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place overnight in Rushville, Indiana.
The request came from Rushville Police Chief Craig Tucker. The investigation is also believed to be connected to a second shooting incident that took place earlier in the evening in the town of Kennard located in rural Henry County. The Indiana State Police is assisting the Henry County Major Investigations Team consisting of the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, New Castle Police Department, and the Henry County Prosecutor’s Office.
The joint investigation has preliminarily revealed at approximately 11:30 p.m. Monday night, Henry County 911 received calls reporting a shooting that took place at 2411 South Kennard Road in Kennard, Indiana. Investigators learned the homeowner awakened to a knock at the door of the residence. Upon opening the door, he was shot and killed by a male subject, who fled the scene. Investigators developed a suspect and subsequently advised surrounding police agencies in hopes he would be located.
During the early morning hours today, officers from the Rushville Police Department located a vehicle matching that of the suspect traveling south on State Road 3 in northern Rush County. Officers followed the vehicle as it turned in the Speedway Gas Station located at 1877 North Main Street in Rushville. The driver exited the vehicle and entered the store. A short time later, he exited the store and encountered two officers who had taken a position of cover and began giving him loud verbal commands. The suspect failed to follow orders and reached for a holster, drew a handgun, and pointed it at the officers. Two officers fired their department-issued weapons, striking the suspect an undetermined number of times.
Officers immediately began administering first aid until medics arrived and were able to take over. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful and the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Rush County Coroner. Neither police officer sustained any injuries during the altercation.
Per department policy, each officer has been put on paid administrative leave. The names of the suspect and officers will be released in a subsequent news release once all notifications have been made.
At the conclusion of the investigation, all information will be turned over to the Rush County Prosecutor’s Office for review. There is no further information to release as of this morning.
Investigators have determined there is no longer any threat to the public as the deceased suspect was the sole suspect in both incidents.
