On Sunday, January 18, 2026, an Indiana Judge and his wife were injured in a shooting in their own home.
What Happened?
On the weekend of January 18th, Tippecanoe County Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, were shot, as noted by Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush.
On this day, officers arrived at their home in Lafayette, Indiana, at about 2:17, and inside the house, both Judge Meyer and his wife were found severely injured from the shooting, according to the Lafayette Police Department. The shots were taken at Judge Meyers’ arm and Mrs. Meyers’ hip, according to officials. At the crime scene, the police recovered several shell casings of the bullets used to injure the couple.
After this shooting the Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski made a statement saying, “I want to ensure the community that every available resource is being used to apprehend the individual(s) responsible for this senseless unacceptable act of violence,” followed by “I have tremendous confidence in the Lafayette Police Department and I want to thank all of the local, state, and federal agencies who are assisting in this investigation.”
Who is Judge Meyer?
Judge Steven Meyer is a judge for Tippecanoe County Superior Court. He became a judge in 2014. Before becoming a judge, he was a public defender for the same county (Tippecanoe County) as well as a member of the Lafayette City Council.
After this shooting, a statement was released by Tippecanoe County Judges saying, “There has been an overwhelming outpouring of support from judges throughout the state offering to assist in any way.” Followed by this compassion, the statement also includes a discussion of concern for the lives of other judges, as this shooting raises safety concerns for other judges and their families.
Who are the suspects and/or who has been convicted?
Thomas Moss, a high-ranking member of a motorcycle gang, has been accused of planning to kill Judge Meyer while conspiring with others. The others who have been charged are Black Smith and Raylen Ferguson; they have been charged for “conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes”. These people may be convicted of gang violence. Amanda Milsap was also arrested on bribery charges, as well as “obstruction of Justice,” and the fifth person charged is Zenada Greer, who was convicted for assisting the criminal and “obstruction of justice” as well.
Moss has alleged gang ties that are affiliated with the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, and this motorcycle gang was supposed to have a trial on January 20th on charges from 2024 of “domestic battery, unlawful possession of a firearm” as well as additional crimes.
Smith, a member of this motorcycle gang, supposedly had bought the shotgun that Ferguson used to shoot Judge Meyer and his wife.
As Ferguson committed this crime, it has been said that he came to Meyers’ door asking where his missing dog was, and that was when gunshots were heard. It has also been reported that a few days before Meyer and his wife were shot, Ferguson was seen knocking on the judge’s door for a food delivery, and Meyer had simply told him he had the wrong house. But this revealed the planning of events leading up to the shooting and how they were being unfolded.
These criminals have been convicted, but Judge Meyer has released many statements, including, “horrific violence will not shake my belief in the importance of peacefully resolving disputes. I remain confident we have the best judicial system in the world, and I am proud to be a part of it.” This highlights Judge Meyers’s confidence in his career and in the judicial system as a whole.
