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Last updated on Tuesday, March 27, 2018
(BEDFORD) - Jury selection began Tuesday morning in the trial of Joseph “Joey” Backenstoes in Lawrence County Superior Court II.
Judge Williams Sleva is preceding. Backenstoes is charged with a Level 4 felony of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. He was arrested after a shooting incident on October 6, 2017 that left 38-year-old Travis Lee Craig dead. Backenstoes has not been charged in causing the death of Craig.
At 11:37 a.m., Lawrence County Sheriff Central Dispatch received a 911 call with the caller reporting that he "just heard shots fired" and "a man's down outside my yard."
When police arrived at the home at 5951 State Road 158 they found Craig in his yard not breathing.
Officers from Lawrence County, first responders from Indian Creek Volunteer Fire Department and an IU Health Hospital ambulance crew rushed to the scene.
Sheriff Mike Branham says Craig died from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and head.
There were two other people at the home at the time of the shooting - the victim's wife Debbie and her cousin, Joseph "Joey" Backenstoes, who made the call to 911, says Sheriff Branham.
"During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that a person of interest, Joseph "Joey" Backenstoes, had committed the unrelated offense of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony," Sheriff Branham said at the time of the shooting. "Detectives also received an anonymous tip that Backenstoes was going to Walmart and was leaving the state."
Knowing that Walmart is a bus stop, officers were on their way to Walmart when they saw Backenstoes walking along John Williams Boulevard toward Walmart. Backenstoes was arrested without incident and taken to the Lawrence County Jail where he was held on a $50,000 bond.
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