Man considered a serious violent felon accused of having a firearm

A man who lived in eastern Greene County last October accidentally shot himself in the hand. He said the gun belonged to his now ex-girlfriend but a GCSD deputy’s follow-up investigation revealed a different story and the man was arrested and in court yesterday, he was charged with a Level 4 felony.

Jacob Raymond Gunselman

Jacob Raymond Gunselman, 31, Bloomington, was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail at 12:49 p.m. yesterday, Thursday, February 17, on a warrant that was issued for his arrest on January 25.

The case against Gunselman actually started at 4:51 p.m. back on October 13 when Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Kelly Hutchens, the investigating officer, was dispatched along with GCSD Deputy Michael Coy to a residence on East Shady Meadows, Solsberry, where Gunselman was living at the time. Deputies were told Gunselman had been admitted to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for a self-inflicted gunshot wound that allegedly occurred while he was cleaning a handgun. The hospital was going to be discharging Gunselman that evening.

When Deputy Hutchens contacted Gunselman by phone, he said he was at the pharmacy waiting for a prescription to be filled. He said the firearm belonged to his then-girlfriend. He allegedly said he came home from work, saw the firearm on the porch and picked it up to take it inside. He said he thought it was unloaded and he was unsure why, but he pulled the trigger and shot his own hand. He then ran inside and his then-girlfriend drove him to the hospital.

It wasn’t until January 11 that Deputy Hutchens became aware of another incident involving Gunselman that occurred on December 13 around 10:24 a.m. when Deputy James Carpenter was dispatched to the Diesel Punk Core business located on North State Road 45. During Deputy Carpenter’s investigation, an employee at the business told him Gunselman had shot himself in the hand in October while Gunselman was employed there.

Deputy Hutchens followed up and when she talked to the employee on January 17 and asked about the incident, the employee said it was not uncommon for Gunselman to have a handgun and the shooting incident occurred around 3 p.m. after the boss had left for the day. She was outside having a smoke when she heard the gun go off. Gunselman’s residence was located close to the business and he left to go home. She also said another employee had taken photos of where the shooting took place and that other employees had helped with the clean-up.

When Deputy Hutchens talked to the employee who had taken the photos, the employee said she heard a loud bang and when the employee who was out for a smoke came inside, they went to the warehouse where Gunselman said he had shot himself. She said Gunselman had blood running down his hand and that the employees did the clean up. She also said she found the bullet in the gaylord – a cardboard box.

Deputy Hutchens interviewed yet another employee who said he was in a different area when he heard a gun “rack.” He said he then walked to where Gunselman was. Gunselman allegedly said it was his gun and he then showed the employee how to take the gun apart. According to the employee, when Gunselman put the gun back together, he racked the slide and pulled the trigger causing the gun to fire. Gunselman then dropped the gun into the gaylord and allegedly told the employee that it did not happen there.

Deputy Hutchens reported that Gunselman was convicted of burglary, a Level 4 felony, in Dubois Circuit Court in October 2015 and by having that conviction, Gunselman is considered a serious violent felon who is not supposed to be in possession of a firearm.

Following her investigation, a criminal case was filed against Gunselman in Greene Circuit Court. After he was booked into jail on Thursday, he appeared in court for his initial hearing via two-way video between the jail and the courtroom. A public defender was appointed to represent him.

The judge said Gunselman’s bond would remain at $15,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. Gunselman posted $1,500 and was released from custody later the same day.

Gunselman has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony.