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Man Accused Of Shooting At Police Pleads Not Guilty

Last updated on Thursday, May 17, 2012

(BLOOMINGTON) - 21-year-old Corey J. Hamersley, who lives in Terra Trace Apartments in the 300 block of East 14th Street, appeared in Monroe Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon for an initial hearing on charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness, two counts of pointing a firearm, resisting law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance (LSD) and possession of marijuana and hashish.

He wore a black-and-white-striped jail uniform and was seated in a wheelchair. A jail officer rolled him up to the bench, where Hamersley told Judge Kenneth Todd he understood the charges against him and that he was pleading not guilty. Bloomington attorney Jeremy Temple is representing him.

Hamersley, a junior majoring in exercise science, was booked into the Monroe County Jail Tuesday after being released from Bloomington Hospital, where he underwent leg surgery. He is being held without bail; a bond is review hearing is set for Tuesday. An initial hearing has been scheduled for July 5.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Bloomington police received several calls reporting Hamersley was outside naked firing 9mm semi-automatic gun outside of Terra Trace Apartments. Police recovered more than 30 rounds at the scene.

David Greischar and his wife Margaret told police they saw Hamersley outside their home waving the gun. Hamersley allegedly asked David "what window would you like?"
Margaret says Hamersley attempted to get into their home and that is when she shut the door, locked it and called police. At one point David heard Hamersly say "Where are My Demons?"

That is when the Greischars moved away from the door and took cover. Police say Hamersley fired eight rounds that hit the door, with six of those entering the house. Three vehicles parked nearby were hit with four bullets.

That is when Bloomington Police officer Dana Runnebohm arrived hearing the gun shots. He saw Hamersly. She moved to cover behind a home in the 300 block of East 15th Street. There she saw Hamersley fire the gun and continue to yell, "Open the F****** door."

Runnebohm moved closer taking cover behind a tree and told Hamersley to drop the gun. Hamersley allegedly turned toward the officer and fired one shot. Runnebohn retreated back behind the house, to wait for backup. Hamersley turned his attention back to the house and vehicle and fired more shots.

Runnebohm again advanced to the tree and again ordered Hamersley to drop the gun. He again pointed his gun at the officer and fire a second shot.

Hamersley then ran south in the alley on the east side of the Greischar's home. When he reached 15th Street, police again told him to drop his gun. He refused, and continued to point the gun at police. Patrolman Trae Luck shot Hamersley once in the leg. Hamersley pointed the gun again at police and Sergeant Joe Crider shot him in the other leg.

Hamersley was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital where he underwent surgery.
In route to the hospital and at the hospital Hamersley uttered incoherent statements, yelling profanities and making comments about war and military related topics. After being read his rights he told police he knew he was shooting at police and figured if he was going to get shot, then he thought someone else should get shot also.
Before shooting at Runnebohm he told her "How cool it would be to say that he shot a cop."

Hamersley told police he grew up around guns and received military type training from his step-father. He told police he was a "good shot" and was completely away that he intentionally pointed a loaded gun at police and pulled the trigger with the intent to shot the officer in the chest.

Armed with a search warrant, police found LSD, Hashish and marijuana along with drug paraphernails in Hamersley's bedroom.

Corey Joseph Hamersley.JPG

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