DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. -- A Muncie man was found guilty of attempted murder and other felony charges after shooting at three Delaware County Sheriff's deputies in June of 2023.
The Delaware County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday that Tarron Conwell, 20, was convicted by a jury trial of the following charges:
- Three counts of attempted murder, level 1 felony
- Criminal recklessness, level 5 felony
- Unlawful carrying of a handgun, level 5 felony
- Resisting law enforcement, level 6 felony
Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said that he will never tolerate "acts of violence" against law enforcement.
“Police officers form the thin blue line that stands between criminals and their would-be
victims. In doing so, they routinely put their life in jeopardy so that we may live in a civilized
and safe society," Hoffman said. "Officers have the absolute right to defend their own lives so that they may go home at the end of their shift. If you choose to fire a gun at a police officer, you do so at your own peril. As Prosecutor, I will not tolerate acts of violence against law
enforcement."
Each level 1 felony count can be punished with a prison sentence between 20 and 40 years and result in a $10,000 fine. Meanwhile, level 5 felonies in Indiana are punishable by one and six years while a level 6 felony can lead to a sentence of six months or two and a half years in prison.
On June 23, 2023, DCSO deputies were trying to locate Conwell for his alleged role in an unspecified prior crime and had active arrest warrants out of Madison County. When authorities arrived at a residence in the 3000 block of Mock Avenue, they observed Conwell flee on foot before he pulled out a concealed handgun and fired several rounds at the responding deputies.
One of the deputies returned fire while another used their fully marked police vehicle to "stop the deadly and aggressive actions of Conwell", according to a previous ISP release.
The patrol vehicle was damaged by the gunfire but none of the deputies suffered any injuries during the altercation. After Conwell was apprehended, he was transported to Indiana University Ball Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
Court documents indicate that deputies found additional firearms and a substance believed to be marijuana after executing a search warrant at the home.
While Conwell was awaiting his jury trial at the Delaware County Jail, previous reporting indicates that he allegedly struck an officer in the face with his hand and “knocked his prescription glasses off.” The correctional officers claimed that Conwell was reportedly upset about a food tray that was given to him and insisted that he be handed a new one.
Conwell is set to be sentenced on July 24 in Delaware Circuit Court 1.