Judge SHOT At Home — FBI Manhunt Launched

Person wearing FBI jacket, letters in yellow.

A sitting judge and his wife were shot in broad daylight at their Indiana home by a disguised gunman who remains at large, prompting an FBI manhunt that exposes the alarming vulnerability of America’s judicial system.

Story Highlights

Judge Steven Meyer and wife, Kimberl, werey shot Sunday afternoon by a suspect who knocked on the door claiming to find their dog
FBI joined a multi-agency manhunt as no arrests were made despite a daylight attack in a residential neighborhood
Judge handles major felony cases, including murders, raising concerns about retaliation against judicial officials
Enhanced courthouse security implemented indefinitely asthe suspect remains unidentified and dangerous

Brazen Daylight Attack on Justice

Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, were shot at their Lafayette, Indiana, home on Sunday, January 19, 2026, at approximately 2:15 p.m. in a calculated attack that has law enforcement scrambling. The suspect knocked on their door, claiming to have found the Meyers’ dog, before opening fire through the front entrance. Shell casings were recovered at the scene, but the gunman escaped despite the afternoon timing when neighbors would typically be present.

This brazen assault on a sitting judge represents a direct attack on our constitutional system of justice. Judge Meyer, who serves Tippecanoe Superior Court 2, handles major criminal cases including murders and level 1 through 5 felonies. The targeted nature of this violence against a judicial official undermines the rule of law that conservatives have fought to preserve.

Multi-Agency Response Reveals Serious Threat

The FBI’s immediate involvement signals federal authorities recognize this as more than a random crime. Lafayette Police Department leads the investigation with assistance from Indiana State Police, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, and West Lafayette Police Department. Despite this massive law enforcement response, no suspect has been apprehended as of Monday evening, raising concerns about public safety and the perpetrator’s potential for additional violence.

Judge Meyer remains hospitalized in Indianapolis facing surgery for arm wounds, while his wife Kimberly was released Sunday after treatment for hip wounds. Both victims are stable, but the attack has disrupted court operations and forced the Indiana Supreme Court to coordinate case reassignments. This demonstrates how violence against judicial officials threatens the entire legal system’s functionality.

An urgent manhunt is underway after Indiana Judge Steven Meyer and his wife were shot inside their Lafayette home. Both are in stable condition. The shooting comes amid a rise in threats against judges and elected officials. @AaronKatersky has the latest. https://t.co/hmCNetSnQO pic.twitter.com/1tuDY77yx4

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) January 20, 2026

Judicial Security Crisis Exposed

The attack exposes dangerous vulnerabilities in protecting judges who handle serious criminal cases. Judge Meyer, with 35 years of public service including 12 years on the bench, was targeted in his final year before retirement. His extensive background presiding over major felonies likely created numerous opportunities for defendants or associates to develop grudges against him, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by conservative judges who enforce law and order.

Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith announced enhanced security measures at the courthouse “for the foreseeable future” with extra patrols throughout the county. This indefinite security escalation demonstrates how one act of violence against the judiciary forces taxpayers to bear additional costs while creating an atmosphere of fear that could discourage qualified conservatives from seeking judicial positions.