NEW PALESTINE – Officials with the New Palestine Police Department arrested a Greenfield man following what they believe was an accidental shooting incident Wednesday evening in New Palestine.
The shooting took the life of an 18-year-old male whose name has yet to be released.
Officials arrested Erick N. Wilkinson, 20, 800 block of East 400S, Greenfield around 8:10 p.m. Wednesday night and are holding him under preliminary charges of criminal recklessness and involuntary manslaughter.
Chief Bob Ehle of the New Palestine Police Department said his officers were called to the 4200 block of South Eclipse Way, New Palestine around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22 with reports of a shooting. Once there, officials found the 18-year-old with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Officers rendered first aid until officials from the Sugar Creek Township Fire Department arrived on the scene. The 18-year-old was transported to I.U. Health Methodist Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Ehle noted this was an isolated incident that they believe was an accident.
“It looks like there were three friends there,” Ehle said. “We have one juvenile witness.”
Ehle said the 18-year-old was shot with a 9 mm handgun. Ehle noted his department handed over a probable cause affidavit to the Hancock County Prosecutor’s office who will determine the charges.
“It’s in the prosecutor’s hands at this time,” Ehle said.
Wilkinson is currently an inmate in the Hancock County Jail and will have an initial appearance when the courts open.
Ehle stated they will release the name of the victim after the family has been notified. He also noted that the investigation is ongoing.
