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Last updated on Thursday, December 18, 2014
(GOSPORT.) - Indiana State Police Sgt. Curt Durnill has confirmed that 39-year-old Brent Kyle Krout of Zionsville was fatally shot after an overnight pursuit and roadside standoff on State Road 67 at the Owen/Morgan County line.
The Indiana State Police initiated a narcotics investigation Wednesday evening that would ultimately lead Troopers through three counties, a pursuit, standoff and a police action shooting.
After preliminary information was gathered in Lawrence County, Troopers found reason to believe that Krout, a suspect of a crime regarding this case, was in Owen County driving a black Ford Mustang. When Troopers observed the vehicle near Gosport at 10:30 p.m., a traffic stop was initiated which lead to Krout attempting to flee.
Troopers pursued the Mustang in rural northern Owen County and then continued to stay with the Mustang as it headed into Paragon in Morgan County. During the pursuit, Krout brandished a handgun several times to officers and continuously pointed his weapon at his own head, neck and chin. Once in Paragon, Krout turned the Mustang south, leading officers back toward Gosport.
Stop sticks were successfully deployed on State Road 67 between Paragon and the Owen/Morgan County line which caused all four of the Mustang's tires to deflate and fall completely off. Once at the county line, Krout lost control of the Mustang and came to a stop headed southbound, just off the fog line of the northbound lane just before 11 p.m.
Troopers immediately began negotiations with Krout to get him to surrender his firearm and exit the vehicle peacefully, but without success.
The Indiana State Police Hostage Crisis Negotiators (HCN) and the Emergency Response Team (ERT) were activated and immediately came to the scene. Throughout the night, ISP Negotiators attempted to talk Krout to come out of the Mustang. Krout failed to heed to the negotiators instruction to peacefully exit the vehicle. Krout then fired a shot from his handgun out the front passengers window just after 5:30 a.m.
The shot was not in the vicinity of where the officers were staged and police did not return fire.
Just after 6:20 a.m., as ISP ERT Members closed in on the Mustang, Krout exited the vehicle and stood up in an aggressive manner, taking a tactical stance with his firearm in hand. The driver then pointed his firearm in the direction of the ERT Members, thus provoking Troopers to protect themselves and fire at Krout.
"Any loss of life is tragic and it is regrettable that Mr. Krout felt his only option in this incident was to threaten officers with deadly force as compared to peacefully surrendering and having his day in a court of law," wrote ISP Sgt. Curt Durnal.
An autopsy has been scheduled.
The Lawrence County, Owen County and Morgan County Sheriff's Departments all assisted throughout the investigation.
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