GUNMAN CONVICTED IN DEADLY SHOOTING THAT LEFT APARTMENT WITH 21 BULLET HOLES

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. — Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that on Wednesday, March 18, Jarid M. Baltzell was found guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter as a Level 2 Felony, following a deadly shooting that happened in November of 2024.

On November 5, 2024, officers responded to an apartment on Washington Avenue where a victim was found to have been shot multiple times. Officers saw that numerous rounds had been fired through the apartment door, fatally wounding the victim.

The woman who called 911 was interviewed at the scene and said she had been in an on-and-off relationship with the victim for years. The woman told detectives the victim opened his home to her when she no longer had a place to stay.

The woman went on to tell the detectives that she had asked her fiancé, Baltzell, to come pick her up. When Baltzell arrived at the apartment, the woman told police he grabbed her by the arm and forcefully started pulling her outside. She said that numerous shots were fired, leaving the victim face down in a pool of blood.

Investigators recovered a total of 17 shell casings from the scene and saw a total of 21 bullet holes through the residence. Officers later found Baltzell after he had hidden the weapon in the ductwork of the basement of his home. Baltzell initially denied going to the victim’s home but then claimed he must have “blacked out” after being confronted with evidence that showed otherwise.

At Baltzell’s trial, Deputy Prosecutors presented a large amount of evidence against him, including firearm forensics connecting Baltzell’s gun to the 17 recovered shell casings at the scene, DNA evidence conclusively finding Baltzell’s DNA on the firearm, EPD body cam footage, cell phone extraction records, 911 call audio, and more.

The Defense attempted to argue that Baltzell shot in self-defense, as a revolver was located near the victim’s body at the scene of the crime — though there was no evidence to show the revolver was ever fired, leading the jury to determine that this argument was not applicable.

After considering the evidence, the jury found Baltzell guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter, a Level 2 Felony, which carries a possible sentence of 10 – 30 years. Baltzell also admitted to a Felony Firearm Enhancement, which could add 5 – 20 consecutive years to his prison sentence.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Audrey Beckerle and Jessica Berry tried the case, and the Honorable Judge Robert J. Pigman of the Vanderburgh Superior Court presided.

The Prosecutor’s Office thanks EPD Detective C. Wiseman, EPD Detective S. Toney, EPD Detective M. Beitler, CSU Detective A. Hagensieker, and EPD Officer D. Smith for their work on the case. Internal staff members who also assisted include Tiffany Lubbehusen, Jessica Pollock, Morgan Richardville, Gage Shots, Robyn Mastison, and Jen Savage.

Baltzell now awaits his sentencing, which is scheduled to take place on April 17.