An Indiana judge was shot in his home earlier this week, with local officials reporting no prior threats against him. Judge Stephen Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, were injured when someone knocked on their front door and claimed, “I have your dog,” before firing through the door around 2:15 p.m. on Sunday.
The Lafayette Police Department noted this incident marks the first recorded act of violence against a judge in their area. They confirmed there had been no previous threats or 911 calls from the Meyers’ residence on Mill Pond Lane.
Authorities reported that Stephen Meyer was shot in the arm and Kimberly Meyer in the lower back. Both were hospitalized soon after the shooting.
Details surrounding the exact number of shots fired remain unclear, but police did find shell casings at the scene. As of Monday, Stephen Meyer was in stable condition in the hospital, according to a statement from his colleagues.
Meyer, a Democrat, has been a Tippecanoe Superior Court judge for 12 years, having recently declared he wouldn’t run for a third term in the upcoming November 2026 elections. Notably, he was part of the high-profile case involving Natalia Grace’s adoptive parents.
Natalia Grace, originally from Ukraine, was brought to the U.S. at a young age, leading to accusations and legal disputes regarding her true age and treatment by her adoptive parents.
Throughout various proceedings, Judge Meyer emphasized the court’s previous decision affecting Grace’s age designation, enforcing that she be referred to as an adult. Following media appearances by the Barnetts, he also instituted a gag order in the case.
Overall, Michael Barnett was acquitted in 2022, while Christine Barnett’s charges were dismissed in 2023. Importantly, Natalia Grace has not been implicated in the shooting of the Meyers.
In a statement, Chief Judge Loretta Rush highlighted safety concerns for judges in the community as the search for the shooter continues. There has been an outpouring of community support, with Kimberly Meyer expressing gratitude towards local law enforcement for their thorough investigation.
Lafayette Mayor Tony Rozwalski labeled the shooting an “unacceptable act of violence” and pledged ongoing support for the investigation. Meanwhile, no arrests have been made or suspect descriptions released as multiple agencies, including the FBI, collaborate on the case.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the Lafayette Police Department at 765-807-1200.
