Two days before a Richmond man allegedly shot a neighbor, a Wayne County judge ruled him a dangerous person and decided a confiscated gun should not be returned.
Charles R. Adams, 81, of the 2100 block of Flatley Road was wounded by Indiana State Police gunfire late May 4 after a nearly nine-hour standoff. Adams had barricaded himself inside his residence after he allegedly shot neighbor Christina Reed, 42, according to a state police news release.
Both Reed and Adams were taken to Reid Health and are expected to survive.
On May 5, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office filed a Level 1 felony attempted murder charge against Adams. The charge results from Adams allegedly firing a gunshot at Richmond Police Department officers from inside his house, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Two RPD officers told Indiana State Police investigators the bullet was close enough to them that they could hear it pass.
Three SWAT teams coordinated to take Charles Adams into custody after he barricaded himself inside his Flatley Road residence May 4. Photo supplied by Indiana State Police
Judge April Drake found probable cause for the charge and set a $1 million bond. As of Monday morning, Adams, who was hospitalized in police custody, had not been booked at the Wayne County Jail.
The state police investigation into the shot fired at police and Reed’s shooting continues, the affidavit said, and more charges are expected.
Adams had been arrested April 22 after he allegedly threatened Matthew Reed while carrying a handgun, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The Reeds, whose Rich Road home is on the corner of Rich and Flatley roads next to Adams’ home, have been Adams’ neighbors since 2016.
They said Adams had complained about their detached garage extending onto Adams’ property. The garage was built in 1920, according to county property records. The affidavit said Adams, who bought his residence in 2014, likely became concerned about the property issues because of his “advanced age and deteriorating mental state.”
On April 22, Adams shouted obscenities and threatened Matthew Reed while tapping a handgun carried on his hip, according to the affidavit. Reed told responding Richmond Police Department officers that he does not let his children outside because he fears what Adams might do. When told by an officer he could be arrested if his behavior continued, Adams responded, “Well, I’ll just kill them.”
Adams was then arrested and his Rossi .38 special handgun confiscated. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office filed a Level 6 intimidation charge against him in a case assigned to Circuit Court. Because of Adams’ condition, a “dangerous person” affidavit was filed against him in Superior Court 1 so RPD would not have to return the confiscated gun.
During a hearing May 2 about the dangerous person accusation, Adams said that he had no other firearms, according to Judge Charles Todd Jr.’s order about the hearing. Todd ruled that the prosecution met its burden of proof and that RPD should retain the handgun.
Just before 3 p.m. May 4, RPD officers were dispatched to the Reeds’ home on reports of a shooting, according to the state police release. They found the wounded Christina Reed, who was taken to Reid. Adams had barricaded himself inside his residence.
The RPD, state police and Randolph County SWAT teams all responded to the scene to coordinate arresting Adams. Their efforts included deploying chemical agents and armored vehicles. Richmond Fire Department also sprayed water from hoses and flew its drone.
Adams approached an opening just before midnight and pointed a firearm at police, the release said. State troopers fired at Adams, wounding him.
Officers firing at Adams were placed on administrative leave as normal protocol. Those officers are: Master Trooper George True, Senior Trooper Nickolas Yaeger, Trooper Dana Harvey, Senior Trooper Jason Madison and Senior Trooper Brandon Henderson, the release said.
A version of this article appeared in the May 10 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.