Judge and Wife Shot - Manhunt Underway

Lafayette, Indiana — January 19, 2026 — Authorities are conducting an intensive manhunt after Tippecanoe Superior Court Judge Steve Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, were shot inside their residence on Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed Monday.

The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. on January 18 in the 1700 block of Mill Pond Lane, a residential area on Lafayette's south side. Lafayette Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting and discovered the couple suffering from gunshot wounds. Judge Meyer was struck in the arm, while his wife sustained an injury to her hip. Both were transported to a nearby hospital, where they remain in stable condition as of Monday.

Investigators recovered shell casings at the scene, but no motive or suspect description has been publicly released. The investigation is being handled jointly by multiple agencies, including the Lafayette Police Department, Indiana State Police, Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office, West Lafayette Police Department, Tippecanoe County Prosecutor's Office, and the FBI.

Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush issued a statement expressing profound relief that the couple survived the attack. "Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 Judge Steve Meyer is a fellow judge and a longtime friend," she wrote in a message to judges across the state. "I am deeply grateful he and his wife Kim are alive after having been shot in their home. Their health and well-being are of utmost concern to me."

Rush emphasized the broader implications of the violence, stating, "Any violence against a judge or a judge’s family is completely unacceptable." She urged all Indiana judges to "remain vigilant in your own security" and to contact their local sheriffs for assistance. The chief justice noted that the shooter was "purportedly still at large" as of her statement.

Tippecanoe County trial judges have rallied in support, coordinating with the Indiana Supreme Court to ensure coverage of Judge Meyer's docket in Superior Court 2. A statement from the county's judiciary highlighted an "overwhelming outpouring of support" from judges statewide, with arrangements already in place to keep cases moving forward.

The shooting arrives amid heightened concerns about threats to public officials in Indiana, following incidents of doxxing, swatting, and bomb threats targeting lawmakers during late-2025 redistricting debates. The Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement calling for stronger protections of officials' personal information.

17GEN4.com

Shooting at Indiana Judge's Home Leaves Couple Injured - Suspect Still at Large