Police Arrest Suspected Shooter After Seven Wounded Near Ball State

(MUNCIE) – Muncie police have arrested a man in connection with a shooting that left seven people injured early Saturday morning near Ball State’s campus.


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Police arrested 19-year-old VaShaun Harnett, of Muncie, on two counts of attempted murder, other charges are pending.
According to university staff, Harnett is not a Ball State University student
Officers were called around 12:45 a.m. to the 2400 block of West Euclid Avenue on the report of a person shot. When they arrived, they located multiple victims with gunshot wounds.
“Keeping all members of our campus community safe is a top priority,” University President Geoffrey S. Mearns said. “This is a very unfortunate event. We wish all the victims a full and prompt recovery.”
Stella East, a Ball State sophomore and a Muncie native, told The Star Press that she was in the home’s backyard when the shooting took place. She said about 50 people were inside and 50 outside when she and a friend heard five to 10 shots from inside the house. After a brief pause, they heard about 30 more shots, moving from inside to outside.
“Everyone just ran in opposite ways when the shooting started. I just grabbed my friends and ran as far as I could. I was trying to stay calm but knew it was very serious and just had to get away,” East said.
Vice President Mike Pence, who delivered the commencement address Saturday at Taylor University in nearby Upland, commented on the shooting on Twitter.
“Landed in Muncie, IN this morning and was briefed on last night’s shooting,” the former Indiana governor wrote. “My prayers are with the injured and their families. God bless them all.”
Ball State issued a campus alert shortly after the shootings warning members of the university community to stay clear of the area.
The university said it was making counselors available to assist the campus community in dealing with the shootings.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Harnett told police he had a 9mm handgun in his possession while he was at a large house party. At some point, while at the party, Harnett and another male Spelmon Allen got into an argument.
The argument began when Allen pointed a firearm at Harnett’s friend. Harnett pushed Allen’s arm away, then Allen pointed the gun at Harnett, according to the affidavit. Harnett told investigators he then shoot Allen in the stomach and chest areas three times. Harnett told investigators he thought someone else, possibly Allen, fired shots inside the house.
When Harnett went to the driveway, he saw Tyler Childers and Daymarr Kennedy standing over Allen, according to the affidavit. Harnett told investigators he thought they were “digging in Allen’s pants,” told them to stop, and fired shots at Childers and Kennedy.
Harnett told them no one else outside the house had a gun, fired shots, or made any threatening actions or comments towards him. After he fired the shots, Harnett told police he put his firearm in his car and called 911.
Allen, Chiders, and Kennedy were taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the affidavit.
Childers was later taken by a medical helicopter to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he is listed in stable condition.
Police say hospital staff planned to transport both Allen and Kennedy to IU Health Methodist Hospital, but both men’s conditions were unstable. Both had “coded” but were revived. Both are listed in critical condition.
The identities of the other victims have not been released.

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