BRAZIL, Ind.–The man who kept Indiana State Police negotiating with him for 26 hours at the Best Western south of Brazil, has given up. Shannon Jeffers fired several shots at officers before he came out of his room at 12:30 Friday afternoon.
“Every time that our officers were attempting to use tactical techniques, whether we were attempting to put gas or pepper balls into the room, every time we would do that he would just fire randomly at out officers,” said Indiana State Police Sgt. Matt Ames.
LISTEN: Sgt. Matt Ames talks about how they avoided shooting back.
Jeffers, 40, of West Terre Haute, will now face charges related to his shooting at officers.
“Speaking with Prosecutor Emily Clark here in Clay County, she’s already has enough information that she wants Level 1 attempted murder charge filed against Mr. Jeffers,” said Ames, adding that he believes when Clark reads the entire report more charges are likely.
Jeffers went into the motel room at 10:15 a.m. Thursday and shot at officers through the door. He originally had hostages. But, they were released Thursday.
“They were acquaintances of his,” said Ames,”not necessarily relatives or anything like that, but just acquaintances.”
He said several police agencies negotiated with Jeffers, hoping to have a safe outcome, which was achieved when Jeffers gave up.
Jeffers will have to face a judge on all the charges that have now been accumulated, including the original probation violations on original charges of possession of meth and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Ames said he and all of the police agencies appreciate the people who live and work in the area for dealing with State Routes 59 and 42 shut down for over 26 hours.
