At a Glance
- Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 Judge Steve Meyer and his wife Kim were shot inside their Lafayette home at 2:17 p.m. on January 18
- Both victims are in stable condition; Mr. Meyer was hit in the arm and Mrs. Meyer in the hip
- The shooter remains at large and no arrests have been announced
- Why it matters: The brazen attack on a sitting judge in his own home has sparked statewide concern for judicial safety
A quiet Sunday afternoon turned violent when an unknown assailant opened fire inside the Lafayette residence of Judge Steve Meyer, injuring both him and his wife in what officials are calling a deliberate act.
The Shooting
Police responded to a 911 call at 2:17 p.m. on January 18 reporting gunfire at the Meyer home on the 1700 block of Mill Pond Lane. Officers arrived to find the couple had sustained gunshot wounds; shell casings littered the scene.
- Mr. Meyer suffered an arm wound
- Mrs. Meyer was struck in the hip
- Both were transported for emergency care and are now listed in stable condition
The Lafayette Police Department posted the details to Facebook on January 19, confirming the identities of the victims as Steven and Kimberly Meyer.
Judicial Community Reacts
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush identified the victims as Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 Judge Steve Meyer and his wife in a statement released through the Indiana Judicial Branch website.
“I am deeply grateful he and his wife Kim are alive after having been shot in their home,” Rush wrote to her fellow judges. “Their health and well-being are of utmost concern to me.”
Rush urged colleagues to contact local sheriffs, noting the shooter is “purportedly still at large,” and warned:
- Any violence against a judge or family is “completely unacceptable”
- Judges handling more than 1 million cases annually “must not only feel safe, you must also be safe”
- She asked colleagues to “remain vigilant in your own security”
Community Response
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski condemned the attack in a statement included in the police release:
> “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Meyer family. I want to ensure the community that every available resource is being used to apprehend the individual(s) responsible for this senseless, unacceptable act of violence.”
Roswarski praised the multi-agency response:
- Lafayette Police Department
- Indiana State Police
- Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office
- West Lafayette Police Department
- Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office
- FBI
Kimberly Meyer also spoke on behalf of the couple:
> “I have great confidence in the Lafayette Police Department’s investigation and want to thank all the agencies involved for their work. We are also incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the community; everyone has been so kind and compassionate.”
Court Operations Continue
The Tippecanoe County Judges issued a statement through the Indiana Judicial Branch assuring residents that court business will not halt:
- Judge Meyer remains hospitalized in stable condition
- The Indiana Supreme Court and senior judges are arranging coverage for Tippecanoe Superior Court No. 2
- Judges statewide have offered assistance
- Cases will “continue to be heard in a timely manner”
Judge Meyer, first elected to the bench in 2014, recently announced he would not seek a third term, according to local station WLFI News 18. Before becoming a judge he served as a public defender for Tippecanoe County and sat on the Lafayette City Council.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have classified the incident as an “active and ongoing joint investigation.” No motive has been disclosed and police have not released any description of a suspect or vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lafayette Police Department.
