A Tippecanoe County judge and his wife were shot inside their Lafayette home on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 18, prompting a multi-agency manhunt and heightened security advisories to courts statewide, authorities said. Judge Steven Meyer suffered an arm wound and his wife, Kimberly, was shot in the hip. Both were listed in stable condition Monday.
The shooting rattled a quiet subdivision on the city’s south side and drew local, state and federal investigators, including the FBI, to process the scene and canvass for video. Police said the assailant fled before officers arrived and remains at large. Investigators did not announce an arrest or motive by Monday night. The case has drawn statements from Indiana’s judicial leadership and Lafayette’s mayor, who described an all-hands investigation. The incident is the latest in a series of threats and attacks targeting public officials, adding urgency to discussions of courthouse and residential security for judges and their families.
Officers were dispatched shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday to a home on Mill Pond Lane, where a 911 caller reported gunfire and two people wounded. Responding units found the couple conscious with apparent gunshot injuries and applied initial aid while medics staged nearby. Neighbors said patrol cars converged within minutes, blocking the cul-de-sac and directing traffic away from the subdivision as detectives taped off the front walk and doorway. Police later confirmed shell casings were recovered and technicians photographed the entry and foyer. “The community can expect to see an increased police presence as we work leads,” Lafayette’s mayor, Tony Roswarski, said, calling the crime “serious and unacceptable.”
Authorities released few specifics about the shooter, including whether investigators had a working description from witnesses or cameras. Detectives did not say how many rounds were fired, the caliber of the weapon, or whether the assailant arrived on foot or by vehicle. Police also did not comment on whether any threats had been made against the judge before the attack. The Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office said it would review the case when a suspect is in custody. The Indiana State Police and federal agents are assisting with forensics, video pulls and neighborhood canvassing. Kimberly Meyer issued a brief statement thanking responders and saying she had “great confidence” in the investigation.
Meyer, a longtime figure in local government and on the bench, serves in Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 and previously sat on the Lafayette City Council for more than two decades. He had announced plans to retire in 2026. On Monday, Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush sent a message to judges statewide expressing gratitude that the couple survived and urging vigilance. “Violence against judges and their families is unacceptable,” Rush said, adding that court leaders were coordinating with law enforcement on safety guidance. Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and other state officials also condemned the attack and wished the couple a quick recovery.
Neighbors along Mill Pond Lane described a calm weekend afternoon that shifted quickly to sirens and flashing lights. One resident said she looked outside after hearing two sharp cracks and saw officers sprinting toward the front door of the Meyers’ home with trauma kits. Another neighbor recalled paramedics wheeling a stretcher toward the driveway as detectives placed numbered markers near the porch. By evening, the subdivision entrance remained blocked by police vehicles while technicians moved in and out of the home carrying paper evidence bags and portable lighting.
The Lafayette Police Department outlined early investigative steps: collecting shell casings for ballistic comparison, canvassing for doorbell and security camera footage, logging 911 calls and radio traffic to build a precise timeline, and checking nearby license plate readers for vehicles entering and leaving the area around the time of the shooting. Detectives also plan to review any recent cases in the judge’s court that might present investigative leads, though officials emphasized they have not identified a motive. The FBI’s role includes technical support and database searches to cross-reference tips or similar incidents elsewhere.
Security concerns for judges have mounted nationally in recent years, with courts revisiting home address confidentiality, lighting, and response protocols after several high-profile threats and attacks. In Indiana, judicial leaders have previously circulated guidance on situational awareness and residential precautions. Following Sunday’s shooting, administrative staff reminded judges to coordinate with local sheriffs regarding any security changes and to report unusual contacts. Lafayette officials said additional patrols would pass through the neighborhood while the manhunt continues.
As the workday began Monday, investigators expanded the search radius, re-interviewed neighbors and requested any additional video from overnight into the morning. Police asked residents to recall unfamiliar vehicles lingering on the street since the weekend and noted that even partial license plate numbers could help. Officers established a tip line and said detectives would prioritize corroborated, time-stamped information. Crime scene specialists returned to the home midday to complete trajectory mapping and a secondary sweep of the entryway and adjacent rooms.
Legal and procedural steps hinge on identifying a suspect. If an arrest is made, prosecutors could seek charges ranging from attempted murder and aggravated battery to weapons counts, depending on evidence recovered. Detectives said they will consult with the prosecutor’s office on potential protective orders and any court security adjustments as the case moves forward. For now, the file remains an open, active investigation with no timeline for resolution. Hospital officials did not provide updates beyond confirming the couple’s stable condition.
By Monday evening, police had not shared a suspect description or released additional details about how the assailant approached or fled. The cul-de-sac reopened to local traffic, though a single patrol car remained on watch and evidence tape still ringed the front steps. Friends and colleagues delivered flowers and cards, and a small group paused at the sidewalk to offer quiet prayers. “We’re thankful they’re alive,” a former colleague said, “and we’re trusting the investigators to find whoever did this.”
As of Tuesday, Jan. 20, the manhunt continued with no arrest announced. The next public update is expected after detectives complete their initial video review and ballistic comparisons or if a significant lead develops earlier.
Author note: Last updated January 20, 2026.