LIGONIER - Police continue to investigate after John C. Weldy was shot and killed by police after pointing a gun at officers Friday evening to end a standoff at Weldy’s home on Ligonier’s east side.
But so far, it seems as though not much is known about the man that brought the east side of the city to a standstill last Friday afternoon. Or, more importantly, why he turned violent and fired his rifle at a Ligonier police officer.
Weldy was shot by members of the Northeast Indiana SWAT team.
An autopsy was performed Saturday.
According to Noble County Coroner Dr. Terry Gaff, Weldy died of “multiple gunshots” to the chest and abdomen area.
Gaff declined to say how many times Weldy was shot.
Gaff ruled the death a homicide, but said “there’s no criminal implication” in that word. It only means that a human being took another human being’s life.
The investigation is ongoing by the Noble County Sheriff Department, assisted by the Indiana State Police, Auburn Police, Cromwell Police, Noble County Prosecutor’s Office, Noble County Coroner’s Office, Ligonier Fire Department and Noble County EMS.
The shooting ended a three-hour standoff with authorities that began with a report of a man in the street with a long gun in the 700 block of East Smith Street at approximately 2:20 p.m.
Some neighbors were evacuated from nearby homes. Streets were blocked off in all directions for up to two or three blocks. The rear of the property led to the Elkhart River area.
School buses were diverted and students were sent to Ligonier Elementary School to be picked up there.
In the meantime, the incident left most people wondering why this happened. An investigation is under way by the Noble County Sheriff’s Dept.
Detective Sgt. Joe Hutsell, who is heading the investigation for the sheriff’s department, declined to say what type of gun Weldy was carrying.
When Ligonier Police Officer Mike Alexander arrived on the scene, Weldy was in the street holding a long gun. Alexander stopped his car 25 yards away from Weldy. When officers ordered Weldy to drop the gun, Weldy pointed the gun at them and fired.
Alexander’s vehicle was struck four times, Ligonier Police Chief Bryan Shearer said.
Officers did not return fire. Instead they sought cover.
Weldy then fled back into his residence at 701 E. Smith St.
A perimeter was set up, homes in the area were evacuated and the Noble County Special Operations Group, Northeast Indiana SWAT and the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team were activated.
Shearer said officers had communicated with Weldy for approximately 45 minutes. The communications with Weldy were filled with threats to police, Shearer said.
Weldy eventually appeared in a rear window of his home and pointed a gun at police.
That’s when at least one member of Northeast Indiana SWAT opened fire.
As of Wednesday afternoon, this newspaper was unable to locate any news about any funeral arrangements for Weldy, and efforts to reach family members were unsuccessful.
Commented