The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne)
Copyright 2008 The Journal Gazette
ETNA GREEN, Ind. — The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department released more information Tuesday about the self-inflicted shooting of a Winona Lake man in the Etna Green area on Sunday night.
Detectives have determined that Eric V. Graves, 37, went to the home of Carl Wireman, 858 North County Road 950 West in Etna Green.
The report said Wireman apparently opened his front door to Graves, who had a loaded handgun pointed directly at him, and began saying that he planned to kill Wireman and his family.
Wireman grabbed for the weapon and began to wrestle with Graves in the front yard, the report said, and Wireman was able to remove the handgun from Graves and throw it clear into the yard.
Graves then pulled out a second handgun, the report said. The struggle continued and the second weapon was fired, but no one was struck.
Wireman was able to remove Graves’ second weapon and retreat back to his home as Graves got out a third firearm, the report said.
Wireman had his daughter call the police as he locked the doors and turned off the lights. All the while, the report said, Graves was still yelling that he intended to kill Wireman and his family, and was searching the yard for his other weapons.
As sheriff’s deputies approached the residence, Wireman told police, he heard a single gunshot from the front of his home. Deputies found Graves sitting in a lawn chair with a handgun in his hand and a single gunshot wound to his head.
Wireman is a paramedic in Kosciusko County and began administering first aid to Graves, along with the deputies.
Graves was flown to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where he remained in critical condition Tuesday morning.
No charges had been filed as of Tuesday morning. The motive for the shooting is not being released at this time, the report said.