LAWRENCEBURG – Early Saturday morning, Detectives from the Indiana State Police Versailles Post were requested to respond to the Hollywood Casino Hotel in Lawrenceburg to investigate an officer-involved shooting that left one man deceased.
The initial investigation indicates that shortly before 1:00 a.m., a disturbance was reported on the hotel’s fourth floor. The preliminary information reported to police was that an adult male was threatening and pursuing another person with a knife.
Three officers from the Lawrenceburg Police Department soon arrived on the scene and learned that the man had begun firing a gun on the fourth floor of the hotel. Upon arriving at the fourth floor, the officers located the man in the hallway. An officer gave the man commands to drop the handgun he was holding. The suspect then began shooting, with the officers returning fire. The suspect was struck at least once by the officers. None of the officers were injured.
The suspect died at the scene as a result of the injuries he sustained. His identity is being withheld pending proper identification by the Dearborn County Coroner’s Office and notification of the next of kin.
One victim sustained minor injuries after the suspect confronted him with a knife before police arrived. It is believed that the victim did not know the suspect. After the shooting, officers checked the welfare of the other patrons in the hotel at the time of the incident and worked with hotel staff to move guests to the affected area. No other injuries were reported.
The identities of the officers involved are being withheld at this time. They are all on administrative leave as part of Lawrenceburg Police Department protocols.
The Indiana State Police has been assisted by the Lawrenceburg Police Department, Dearborn and Ohio Counties Prosecutor’s Office, Dearborn County Coroner’s Office, and Hollywood Casino and Hotel Staff.
The investigation is ongoing. Upon conclusion, the case will be presented to the Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
