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MILFORD - A Milford man is in stable condition after being shot Sunday by another man at their residence. The suspect was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail after a brief manhunt.
John D. Gillespie, 30, of 201 Turkey Creek Drive, Milford, suffered gunshot wounds to his left arm and left side. After the shooting, Gillespie was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was admitted for further treatment of his injuries. A nursing supervisor reported this morning that Gillespie was in stable condition.
According a press release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Gillespie was shot by Gabe Walter Helms, 26, of 201 Turkey Creek Drive, Milford.
Helms is being held without bond in the KCJ on one count of felony aggravated battery and two counts of criminal recklessness.
Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said the incident apparently resulted from an ongoing domestic problem. Gillespie reportedly was living in a trailer on the property where the shooting occurred. The residence there is owned by Helms' parents, whom Helms reportedly believed Gillespie was attempting to come between.
Rovenstine said it was basically "too hot and too much alcohol" that led to the shooting. An unofficial report indicates that Helms had a blood-alcohol level of .16 percent.
Police were alerted to the shooting by two 911 calls placed to the Central Dispatch Center about 3:46 p.m. Sunday. The first caller said someone at the residence had been shot.
Milford police and emergency medical service personnel were the first to arrive at the scene, where Gillespie was located.
The Kosciusko County SWAT Team was activated to check the residence for Helms. However, he allegedly fled the scene on foot into a wooded area behind the residence and went to another family member's home. Helms was located at his grandmother's residence a short time later and he then surrendered to police without incident. Helms was booked into the county jail about 10 p.m.
The gun used in the incident was recovered, but Helms reportedly took another weapon with him when he allegedly fled the scene of the shooting. That gun has not yet been located.
Also assisting in the investigation were personnel from Warsaw, Winona Lake and Syracuse police departments and Indiana State Police.
The case remains under investigation by the KCSD.
