Man formally charged with attempted murder in connection to officer-involved shooting in South Bend
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - A South Bend man has been formally charged with attempted murder after he was arrested in connection to an officer-involved shooting in South Bend last Thursday.
According to police, Ian Steven McDonald Austin, 20, of South Bend, allegedly fired multiple rounds from a gun through the front windshield of a car that belonged to an Indiana State Excise officer.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Indiana State Police Excise Officer Joseph Formato was on duty in his police vehicle and uniform at Eddy Street Food Mart when he noticed an older passenger vehicle that he described as a “mid-1990′s gray Honda Civic,” leave the Food Mart and travel east on Madison Street.
Officer Formato proceeded to follow the vehicle out of the parking lot and traveled east on Madison Street. Both vehicles made a slight turn onto Rockne Drive from Madison Street. While on Rockne Drive, the Honda Civic stopped abruptly in the roadway near Jacob Street.
As evident from footage later recovered from Officer Formato’s dash camera, Austin exited his vehicle and fired multiple shots toward Formato’s police vehicle. Formato then returned fire before Austin fled.
Evidence gathered by Indiana State Police led to the serving of a search warrant at Hickory Village Apartments on Tuesday, Oct. 4, around 7 p.m. Austin was taken to the St. Joseph County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $500,000 bond.
After reviewing the investigation, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Austin with the following:
- Count I: Attempted Murder, a level 1 felony
- Count II: Attempted Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, a level 5 felony
- Count III: Criminal Recklessness, a level 5 felony
- Count IV: Firearm Enhancement The sentencing range for a level 1 felony is 20 to 40 years.
The sentencing range for a level 5 felony is one to six years. The sentencing range for a firearm enhancement is five to 20 years.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.
The full Probable Case Affidavit can be read in its entirety below:
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