Police in Indianapolis say a violent assault took a dramatic turn when a woman who reported being raped at gunpoint managed to retrieve her own firearm and shoot the alleged attacker as he fled the scene.
Authorities say the suspect had allegedly forced the victim into a terrifying situation inside her own home, even recording the assault on a cellphone before attempting to escape. Investigators later arrested the man after officers discovered him wounded not far from the area.
Police Investigate Reported Gunpoint Assault
According to court documents, the incident unfolded Tuesday afternoon at a residence on Meadowlark Drive on the northeast side of Indianapolis.
The victim told investigators she was forced to have sex at gunpoint by a man inside her home. She also reported that the suspect recorded the assault on his cellphone during the attack.
Police said the situation escalated after the man left the house. The victim then retrieved her own firearm and fired shots toward him as he fled.
Authorities believe one of the shots struck the rear window of a blue Toyota parked on a nearby street.
Suspect Identified After Neighbor Calls Police
A neighbor eventually contacted police, which helped investigators begin piecing together what happened.
The victim identified the alleged attacker as 23-year-old Trevon Haynes.
Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department began searching the area soon after receiving the report.
Police Find Suspect With Gunshot Wound
Roughly an hour later, a Speedway police officer spotted a vehicle with its hazard lights flashing along Lynhurst Drive.
When the officer approached, they discovered the driver had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. Police identified the driver as Haynes and took him into custody.
Investigators also said they located a firearm inside the vehicle.
Charges Filed Following Arrest
Authorities said Haynes now faces several charges connected to the incident.
Police listed the charges as rape, intimidation, and burglary while being armed with a deadly weapon.
Officials noted that it remains unclear whether the suspect and the victim knew each other prior to the alleged assault.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will ultimately determine the final charges filed in the case.
Police Praise Victim For Coming Forward
Investigators emphasized the importance of the victim reporting the incident and cooperating with law enforcement.
“I know this was a very terrifying situation for this victim, but we’re grateful the victim came forward and spoke with detectives, and we were able to get a violent offender off the streets because of that,” said IMPD Sgt. Amanda Hibschman to WTTV-TV.
Police also said the community played an important role in quickly identifying the suspect.
“Our officers couldn’t have done this without the community coming forward,” Hibschman added. “All of that together and the community cooperation was huge in getting the suspect off the streets so quickly.”
Authorities said Haynes had not previously been charged with any crime before the reported assault.
Meanwhile, the investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors review the case and determine the next steps in the legal process.
