WTHR |Ex-Marine charged after shooting at police officers

Ex-Marine charged after shooting at police officers

Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News

Randolph County - Police say a former Marine faces a number of charges after firing four shotgun blasts at three police officers. It happened last Friday night in the Randolph County town of Lynn. The suspect says he doesn't remember pulling the trigger.

Andrew Ward, 26, an Iraq war veteran, was preliminarily charged with three counts of attempted murder of a police officer. It happened Friday night in the small town of Lynn in eastern Indiana. Ward allegedly kicked in the door of his sister's home and threatened a babysitter who called police. Investigators say that Ward fled, then returned with two guns.

"He had a shotgun. I believe in the report, it jammed and there was another weapon involved, a .22 caliber," said Chief Deputy Steve Acree, Randolph County Sheriff's Department.

Ward allegedly fired four times at three deputies, then charged one deputy before he was shot with a stun gun. No one was injured.

Ward's family tells investigators that the Marine had been trying to get disability benefits from Veterans Affairs for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and was having alcohol, financial and marriage problems.

Ward's family, who didn't want to appear on camera, say he's changed since returning from Iraq and needs medication and counseling.

Last month, 26-year-old Jason Carrera, a sergeant with the Indiana National Guard who served two tours in Iraq, was involved in a seven-hour stand-off with police near the IUPUI campus. Carrera was going through a divorce and had had been recently carjacked. The stand-off ended peacefully with prosecutors declining to file formal charges.

"Some of these things are happening around the country. Some of our military's coming back and having trouble. We hope he gets the help he needs," said Lt. Jeff Duhamell, IMPD.

It's a feeling shared by police about this latest incident.

"According to the family, he's been seeking help. If he got it, I'm not aware of it, but he should have it," said Acree.

Saying that Andrew Ward snapped, his family now await formal changes that the Marine tried to kill three police officers.

Prosecutors plan to charge Ward with criminal recklessness, battery, and intimidation.

Ward is expected to be formally charged Tuesday. He tells family members that he doesn't remember what happened.