Howard Co. officer who shot, killed suspect will not be charged

KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) — No criminal charges will be brought against a police officer who shot and killed a woman in Kokomo back in June.

Shelly Haendiges was shot inside the Casey’s General Store on S. Dixon Road on June 12. She died at the scene.

A police investigation concluded that “Officer Roy Smith responded with lethal force only when Ms. Haendiges aimed her weapon at him,” Howard County Prosecutor Mark A. McCann said in a statement Friday.

Smith responded to a call that the convenience store was being robbed by an armed woman. Smith arrived to find a woman pointing a gun at the store clerk, according to police.

When Smith ordered Haendiges to drop the gun, she pointed it at him and he fired, hitting her twice.

“The Kokomo Police Department conducted a thorough and professional investigation. It is clear that the officer’s actions were justified,” McCann said.

It was later determined that Haendiges’ weapon was a CO2-powered pellet gun.

Police say there was no way to know this without close inspection. The pellet gun had the words “Law Enforcement Use Only” printed on the side. The design was consistent with that of a Beretta-style firearm, police say.