ISP Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Brownstown

One killed

The Indiana State Police is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on April 3, 2019, outside of the Brownstown Police Department in Jackson County.

The initial evidence indicates that a male, identified as Barry A. Rucker, age 53, Brownstown, Indiana along with a female arrived at the Brownstown Police Department together shortly after 8:00 am.  Rucker and the female were involved in an altercation outside of the police department which prompted a 911 call from a passerby.  Two officers from the Brownstown Police Department soon arrived on scene. 

After the officers arrived, an altercation occurred between the officers and Rucker.  During the altercation, Rucker produced a gun, prompting both officers to fire at least one round from their handguns.  Rucker was struck by at least one of the bullets fired by the officers. 

Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department soon arrived on scene and assisted the Brownstown officers in administering immediate first aid to Rucker.  Jackson County EMS arrived on scene and transported Rucker to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana where he was soon pronounced deceased by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office.

None of the officers or the female acquaintance of Rucker were injured. 

Detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post responded to the scene and became the lead investigating agency.

Barry Rucker’s family has been notified.

The names of the officers involved in the incident will be posted in a future release.

The Brownstown Community School Corporation briefly went on lockdown after the incident occurred until it was determined that there was no threat to any of the schools in the district. 

Streets located near the Brownstown Police Department were blocked off for nearly eight hours while the investigation was occurring.     

The investigation is ongoing.