Police arrest and question men after shooting in Evansville

EVANSVILLE – Police in tactical gear surrounded a home on East Gum Street Wednesday after several armed men wearing ski masks allegedly opened fire nearby.

Several men were detained and taken to EPD headquarters, but “there have been no arrests related to the incident,” Evansville police spokeswoman Sergeant Trudy Day said Wednesday. One person was arrested on a warrant, but it is not clear at this time if he was involved in the incident, she said.

Evansville Central Operations received a first report of the shooting shortly before noon. Witnesses said they heard the shots near the 700 block of South Evans Street.

“We had an officer on patrol and he heard several gunshots,” Day told the Courier & Press. “He saw a few people running – some with handguns – and from that point on we cordoned off the area.”

An eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous told the Courier & Press that the shooters were “tall” and wore “ski masks.”

The EPD called together its on-duty SWAT team, deployed a drone, had police dogs on standby and received assistance from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office.

“We had witness statements that some of the perpetrators may have run into a nearby house … the house over on Gum Street,” Day said. That house was reportedly located in the 800 block of East Gum.

Officers spent the next 45 minutes shouting orders through loudspeakers, urging the home’s residents to surrender peacefully. A crowd of more than 20 residents had gathered nearby, at times criticizing the heavy police presence.

“I want everyone to come outside with your hands up,” an officer said over the loudspeaker. “Keep your hands up, don’t stop, come down the stairs.”

At 12:32 p.m., an officer again ordered people to exit the building: “We’ll see you inside. Keep your hands up as you exit the front door.” Moments later, a man slowly exited the house, his hands raised high above his head.

At the intersection of Bayard Park Drive and South Evans Street, the EPD arrested and handcuffed at least two other young men – drawing anger from residents who said the men had nothing to do with the shooting.

“We’re just trying to figure out what’s going on,” an officer told one of the bystanders, who replied, “There are two young brothers sitting out here… either charge them or let them go.”

The men were later taken to EPD headquarters for questioning, as were several others, Day said. She could not say if the individuals were suspects, persons of interest or witnesses.

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