Teen Faces Attempted Murder Charges after Carjacking
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
LARWILL – A 17-year-old is facing attempted murder charges after carjacking and then shooting a man in the chest Sunday. Dakota Kimbler, 17, the alleged shooter, had escaped from Pierceton Woods, a juvenile detention facility, the night before. According to a joint press release from the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and the Whitley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, on Sunday shortly after 7 a.m., Whitley County Sheriff’s Department dispatchers received a call from an individual reporting he had been carjacked and shot, and was holding the shooter at gunpoint. Officers from the WCSD and the Indiana State Police responded to the area near the intersection of Ind. 5 and Old Trail Road, Larwill, and discovered the caller and the assailant, later identified as Kimbler. The shooting victim was taken to a hospital for medical attention, and Kimbler was taken into police custody. A handgun was recovered at the scene, according to the press release. The victim’s identity and condition have not been released. Further investigation revealed that Kimbler had been reported as a runaway on Saturday evening from Pierceton Woods. The press release states that, during a later interview at the hospital, the victim indicated that he finished a shift at Paragon Medical, Pierceton, at 7 p.m. and got into his car in the parking lot of the facility and drove toward his home. At some point after entering Whitley County, the victim became aware that there was someone in the backseat and turned to confront the person. At that time, the victim was shot in his chest by Kimbler. Despite being shot, the victim was able to wrestle the gun away from Kimbler and held the assailant at gunpoint while he called for police help and waited for their arrival. Officials did not release information regarding how Kimbler got the gun or how he escaped from the juvenile detention facility. Kimbler is being held at the Whitley County Jail on a preliminary charge of attempted murder without bail. According to the press release, Indiana law provides that a 17-year-old person charged with attempted murder is subject to adult court jurisdiction.
