An 18-year-old Jasonville man is being held without bond in the Greene County Jail on felony charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness, and pointing a firearm at another after shots were fired in Jasonville on May 16.

Jasonville Police Department Sgt Brian Pilant arrested Ayvin K. Wittgren on charges of attempted murder, attempted intentional killing of another, a Level 1 Felony; criminal recklessness, shooting a firearm into a building, a Level 5 Felony; and pointing a firearm at another, a Level 6 Felony.

At 5:22 p.m. on May 16, Greene County Dispatch received several calls regarding a shooting on South Washington Street in Jasonville. According to the probable cause affidavit written by Sgt. Pilant, dispatch advised a male had been struck with a baseball bat. Dispatch also advised two vehicles were involved – a white Mitsubishi and a tan Altima.

Jasonville Police Chief Ryan Van Horn received a call from a concerned citizen who alleged that gunfire could be heard and that multiple people were fighting. The citizen reported the white Mitsubishi fled the area traveling north on Washington Street, then went west on State Road 54. At the same time, the other vehicle fled the area southbound bound on Washington Street toward Shanklin Street.

Chief Van Horn located the Nissan near the intersection of Shanklin and Meridian Streets and performed a traffic stop. When asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, both allegedly advised there was a firearm in the front passenger floorboard. Van Horn secured the firearm – a teal and black Bersa 9 mm handgun. It was later determined, according to the probable cause affidavit, that the weapon was involved in the shooting and was placed in the car because they didn’t know what to do with it. During the traffic stop, Linton Police Officer Janzen Franklin arrived on the scene for assistance and escorted the two to the Jasonville Police Department.

According to the probable cause affidavit, during the same time frame as Chief Van Horn’s traffic stop, he relayed information as to the direction of travel of the Mitsubishi. Sgt. Pilant located the vehicle and performed a high-risk traffic stop on State Road 48, west of Fry Street. The occupants of the vehicle were Wittgren and a juvenile male.

When asked what had occurred on South Washington Street, Wittgren alleged some guys he didn’t know very well pulled up to the residence and accused him of theft. He told Sgt. Pilant they didn’t say exactly what he allegedly stole, they just accused him of stealing. According to the probable cause affidavit, Wittgren said one of the guys had a bat and used it to strike a male in the face. He alleged a fight broke out and one of the guys went to a vehicle and something was yelled about running him over. Wittgren alleged one of the males present had a firearm.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Wittgren said when they got into the car and tried to come toward him, and he fired some shots at them to make them go away. He advised Sgt. Pilant he was scared and nervous. He alleged he knew firing the weapon was not an option, but said he didn’t intend to hurt them. Chief Van Horn asked if anyone was struck by the bullets fired, but according to the probable cause affidavit, Wittgren could not answer that question. He alleged he fired shots in a general direction and was unsure what contact was made. According to the probable cause, Wittgren told officers he used the firearm in self-defense as when he was in the roadway one of the males he was fighting got into the car, making the vehicle go toward him.

Jasonville Police Department Officers Skylar Scott and Andrew Duguay photographed the scene and collected seven Blazer 9mm Luger shell casings located in a grassy area between the sidewalk and South Washington Street. According to the probable cause, all shell casings were located in a small area, approximately two feet by two feet. Based on the small area where the casings were located, it is believed all seven shots were fired from a relatively fixed position.

Wittgren was transported to the Jasonville Police Department for further questioning. He told officers he was visiting a friend at the South Washington Street residence and was going to get some food but as he went to get into his car, he saw a car stop in the road. He alleged he recognized the driver, but not the male accompanying him. The male allegedly accused Wittgren of stealing something from him.

Wittgren said he looked to his left and saw the driver of the vehicle had a little baseball bat. He alleged he told both males to leave. According to the probable cause affidavit, Wittgren said he knew one of his friends had recently purchased a “piece” from a gun show and thought to himself “ if these guys come up to me f*** ‘em.” Wittgren told officers he wouldn’t fire at them because he wasn’t sure if that was legal but he would pull it out and tell him to get away from him. Wittgren alleged the two males walked up to him and pushed him. One of the males allegedly threw a punch at him and pushed him into the street and began fighting with him. Wittgren alleged he looked to his left and saw a male bleeding from his head from being struck with the baseball bat.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Wittgren told officers that when one of the males started yelling something at him, he told his friend to give him the gun. His friend gave him the weapon and he said he pointed it at the two males. He said, “one guy told me to get the f*** out of the road or they were going to hit him.” He said they got in the car and began gunning it. Wittgren alleged he believed they were going to hit him. According to the probable cause affidavit, Wittgren said he fired a shot at the car. After the first shot, he said the car swerved and he fired a couple more because of adrenaline. As the car turned toward him, he told officers he fired all the rounds in the magazine toward the car. He said no one verbalized a threat to hit him with the car, he just felt threatened by the car because the car traveled south on Washington Street toward him.

As the interview progressed with Wittgren, according to the probable cause affidavit, it was determined his statements were not an accurate account of the events. During a follow-up interview, he admitted that at no point was he or anyone else in danger at the time he discharged the firearm at the vehicle. Witnesses at the scene confirmed no one was in danger of being hit when the vehicle left.

Wittgren later admitted he was upset with one of the males as he had heard he had battered a female. He also knew this person had recently purchased a gun, so he went to the parking lot of Dugger School and stole the gun from his vehicle.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the male subject showed up to address the situation of the stolen firearm with Wittgren. The victim of the stolen weapon said he had received word his weapon had been stolen. He said he and a friend approached Wittgren when a fight ensued. He said several people started to show up, so they decided to leave. As he backed out onto the street, he told officers he heard the “pop pop pop” of shots fired.

Wittgren was booked into Greene County Jail at 10:40 p.m. He is being held without bond until he appears in Greene Superior Court on May 23 for an initial hearing.