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Charges are pending against the man who allegedly entered a Warsaw area home and was shot Friday night. The resident was also charged.
Police submitted a probable cause affidavit for Robert William Kratz, 27, of 3104 E. Wooster Road #64, Pierceton, to be charged with burglary causing serious bodily injury, a Class A felony. The matter is being reviewed by the prosecutor.
Kratz allegedly entered the Graceland Mobile Home Park home of Patrick Parker Friday night while armed with what was believed to be a handgun and reportedly began beating Parker in the head with the gun.
Parker, 29, of 752 S. Bunting, told police he was washing dishes in the kitchen when Kratz allegedly came to the door of his trailer and entered without knocking. During the confrontation that ensued, Parker - who was bleeding from the head and partially blinded by the blood dripping into his eyes - told police that he was able to retrieve a loaded single-shot, 12-gauge shotgun from beneath his couch. He told police that it wasn't until after he got his shotgun that he realized the handgun, which allegedly was pointed in his face, was just a BB gun.
At that point, Parker told police, he was in fear for his life because Kratz was trying to take the shotgun from him. He said he pulled the trigger to discharge and disarm the weapon and, as a result, Kratz was shot in the leg. Kratz was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition this morning.
Parker said he was on the floor and that Kratz was beating him until he was shot. He told police he was unable to aim the shotgun before pulling the trigger. Parker reportedly did not know who Kratz was, but information compiled by police indicated that Parker was involved with Kratz's wife at some point during an eight-month separation between the Kratzes.
Parker was treated at the scene for his injuries and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on a charge of criminal recklessness. That information was not available earlier this week.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department was assisted at the scene by Warsaw and Winona Lake police departments and Indiana State Police.
