Indiana judge shooting came out of nowhere as police hunt mystery suspect, cops say

The Indiana justice who was changeable astatine his location by an chartless fishy earlier this week did not person immoderate recorded instances of threats against him, according to section officials. 

Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, were injured aft an chartless idiosyncratic knocked connected the beforehand doorway of their Lafayette location astir 2:15 p.m. Sunday and told them, "We person your dog," earlier shooting done the door, according to dispatch audio obtained by Fox News Digital. 

The incidental marked the archetypal recorded enactment of unit against the judge, according to the Lafayette Police Department. Officials had nary records of erstwhile threats against Meyer oregon 911 calls from the judge’s Mill Pond Lane address, a section spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. 

Steven Meyer was changeable successful the limb and Kimberly Meyer was changeable successful the hip, authorities said. The mates was taken to a infirmary aft the shooting.

INDIANA JUDGE IN BIZARRE NATALIA GRACE CASE SHOT IN HOME ATTACK AS POLICE HUNT SUSPECT

An Indiana justice and his woman were wounded successful a Lafayette shooting Sunday day arsenic local, authorities and national authorities investigate. (Tippecanoe Superior Court)

While the fig of shots fired remains unclear, constabulary reportedly recovered ammunition casings astatine the scene. 

As of Monday, Steven Meyer remained successful the infirmary successful unchangeable condition, according to a written connection from his colleagues. 

Steven Meyer, a Democrat, has served arsenic a Tippecanoe Superior Court justice for 12 years and precocious announced helium would not question reelection for a 3rd word successful the upcoming November 2026 elections, according to The Exponent. 

The justice antecedently made nationalist headlines successful 2022 portion presiding implicit the trials of then-married mates Michael and Kristine Barnett, the adoptive parents of Natalia Grace. 

SUSPECTED GUNMAN UTTERED 4 WORDS BEFORE SHOOTING INDIANA JUDGE AND WIFE: DISPATCH AUDIO

Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, were changeable astir 2:15 p.m. successful the 1700 artifact of Mill Pond Lane successful Lafayette, Indiana connected Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.  (Ron Wilkins/Journal & Courier/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Grace, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, was accused of masquerading arsenic a kid by the Barnetts aft she was adopted astatine 6 years aged by their household successful April 2010. 

The Barnetts successfully petitioned a Marion County tribunal to alteration Grace's commencement twelvemonth from 2003 to 1989, efficaciously making her legally 22 years old.

Following respective years of accusations of maltreatment from some the Barnetts and Grace, the mates moved her into an flat successful Lafayette, Indiana, earlier fleeing to Canada with their 3 biologic sons, according to Investigation Discovery’s documentary, "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks." Shortly aft moving in, a neighbour noticed Grace struggled with feeding herself and completing basal household chores.  

In September 2019, the Barnetts were charged with aggregate counts of neglecting a dependent, owed to Grace's disability.

During Michael Barnett’s trial, Judge Meyer ordered that Grace could lone beryllium referred to arsenic an adult, pointing to the court’s erstwhile ruling regarding her commencement year, according to The Exponent. Judge Meyer besides reportedly issued a gag bid connected each parties aft the mates went connected "Good Morning America" successful 2019. 

UKRAINIAN ORPHAN NATALIA GRACE DENIES PLOT TO MURDER AMERICAN ADOPTIVE PARENTS, PRETENDING TO BE CHILD

Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith predicts connected Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, that determination volition beryllium accrued information astatine the Tippecanoe County Courthouse for the foreseeable aboriginal aft Tippecanoe Superior 2 Judge Steve Meyer and his wife, Kim, were changeable astatine their home. (Ron Wilkins/Journal & Courier/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Michael Barnett was recovered not blameworthy by a assemblage successful 2022, portion Kristine Barnett’s charges were dismissed by Judge Meyer successful 2023.

Grace has not been named arsenic a fishy successful the Meyers’ shooting, and has not been charged with a crime. 

In a connection penned by Chief Justice Loretta Rush, Rush expressed interest for each judges wrong the assemblage and urged nationalist officials to stay vigilant arsenic the shooter remains astatine large. 

"I interest astir the information of each our judges," Rush wrote. "As you enactment to peacefully resoluteness much than 1 cardinal cases a year, you indispensable not lone consciousness safe, you indispensable besides beryllium safe. Any unit against a justice oregon a judge's household is wholly unacceptable. As nationalist servants, you are dedicated to the regularisation of law." 

JUDGE AND WIFE SHOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IN INDIANA, SPARKING MASSIVE MULTI-AGENCY INVESTIGATION

Additionally, Kimberly Meyer spoke retired done constabulary to convey section officials for their engagement successful the case. 

"I person large assurance successful the Lafayette Police Department’s probe and privation to convey each the agencies progressive for their work," she said, successful part. "We are besides incredibly grateful for the outpouring of enactment from the community; everyone has been truthful benignant and compassionate."

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski besides condemned the shooting, calling it a "senseless, unacceptable enactment of violence," portion vowing to proceed providing resources for the investigation. 

No arrests person been made and officials person not released a statement of a suspect. 

Multiple agencies, including the Lafayette Police Department, Indiana State Police, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, the West Lafayette Police Department, the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI, are progressive successful the case. 

The Lafayette Police Department declined Fox News’ petition for comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

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Authorities urged anyone with accusation to interaction the Lafayette Police Department astatine 765-807-1200.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace, Greg Wehner and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.