A Family Dollar employee was arrested after he allegedly shot a man in the butt for reportedly stealing company merchandise, according to police.
Jerome Stepp was charged with the following:
Aggravated Battery, a Level 3 Felony
Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 Felony
Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched on Monday at 9:55 a.m. to the 2300 block of W Michigan St. on the near west side on a report of a theft in progress at a Family Dollar.
According to court documents, around 15 minutes after the theft occurred officers heard gunshots at the intersection of Belmont and Lynn. The report said that a man was shot in his buttocks. While at the scene of the shooting, officers spoke with a witness who described the shooter and their vehicle.
When the officers went back to Family Dollar they saw the vehicle and the two Family Dollar employees that the witness described.
Crews would later interview both employees. Stepp, who is engaged to the other Family Dollar employee, told her that they needed to get the merchandise back. When they drove down the street they found the man on the bicycle and Stepp fired a warning shot.
The reported thief dropped the merchandise when he was hit by the second shot that was fired.
Stepp was detained, but his fiancée and colleague was released.
This is an active investigation. Information will be updated as it becomes available.