A prominent Indiana judge and his wife are recovering after being shot at their front door in what police describe as a calculated attack. The assailant reportedly gained their attention by claiming to have found their lost dog before opening fire through the door and fleeing the scene.
Details of the Sunday Afternoon Shooting
The incident occurred at 2.17 pm on Sunday at the Lafayette home of Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer. Authorities rushed to the address, located near Purdue University's campus, following reports of a shooting in the area. According to the Lafayette Police Department, Judge Meyer sustained an injury to his arm, while his wife suffered a hip injury. Both are now reported to be in a stable condition.
A major multi-agency investigation has been launched, involving the Lafayette Police, Indiana State Police, the local sheriff's office, the West Lafayette Police Department, the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor's Office, and the FBI. Shell casings were recovered at the scene, but the identity of the shooter remains unknown.
A Judge's Controversial Career and Planned Retirement
Judge Steven Meyer is a well-known figure in the Indiana legal community, having presided over several high-profile cases. He is most recognised for overseeing the complex and highly publicised case of Ukrainian adoptee Natalia Grace Barnett. In that dispute, Barnett's American family accused her of posing as a child despite being an adult, a case that later inspired a television drama.
In another notable ruling, Meyer sentenced a father to 24 years in prison after his unattended gun was used by his five-year-old son to fatally shoot his one-year-old brother, a tragedy the judge called "sadly predictable." Last December, Judge Meyer announced his plans to retire from the Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 at the end of this year.
Growing Concerns Over Safety of Public Officials
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the judicial community and highlighted ongoing security fears for public servants. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush issued a statement expressing she was "deeply grateful" the Meyers survived and emphasised that "any violence against a judge or a judge’s family is completely unacceptable."
This attack is the latest in a disturbing series of assaults on lawmakers and officials across the United States. Last year saw an arson attack on the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the murders of Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in Minnesota. On the same day as the Hortman shooting, Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot but survived. Controversial commentator Charlie Kirk was also shot and killed while speaking at an event in Utah during the same period.
As the search for the Meyer family's attacker continues, the incident underscores a perilous climate for those in public office, raising urgent questions about their protection.
