Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - No charges will be filed after a self-defense shooting at a Vigo County grocery store last month.
It happened on July, 29 at Kroger in southern Vigo County. Officials say Otis Parks shot Sean Martin two times, in self-defense.
Here's what happened.
The Vigo County Prosecutor's Office says Parks gave a statement saying Martin started following him on 7th Street and began driving around him aggressively.
Parks said he pulled into the back entrance to the Kroger parking lot, and Martin quickly turned in, going across traffic to follow.
Martin stopped in the lane right behind his parked car. Parks, a legal gun owner, said he took a handgun out of his glove box and got out of his car, keeping the gun at his side.
Parks told investigators he asked Martin "What's your problem, man?" That's when Martin reportedly grabbed Parks by the neck. Parks then shot Martin twice and called 911.
Witnesses and surveillance video helped confirm most of Parks' report.
In the surveillance video, investigators could see Martin hit a sign while he tried to follow Parks.
Martin was a school protection officer with the Vigo County School Corporation.
"In our current times, people are under a lot of stress," Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said. "Mr. Martin was apparently under additional stressors in his personal life. It is tragic that Mr. Martin lost his life. And Mr. Parks is very upset that he had shot and killed a person. But these facts applied to Indiana law demonstrate that Mr. Parks' actions were covered by the self-defense law and he will not be put in legal jeopardy for his actions."