Man shot, killed by police in Tell City after firing at officers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police in Tell City shot and killed a man Friday morning after he fired at officers, according to Indiana State police.

Just before 1 a.m., police from Cannelton, a city about 3.5 miles south of Tell City, tried to stop a pickup truck for speeding on State Road 66, state police said in a statement.

The driver, identified as 22-year-old Payton Masterson, of Tell City, took off. Masterson drove to the Walmart in Tell City, turned around, and headed back into Cannelton.

While in Cannelton, Masterson drove down St. Louis Avenue and was trying to turn around when he fired several shots, hitting the vehicle of a Cannelton police officer.

State police say Masterson got out of his truck, stole a different pickup truck, and led police on a chase into Tell City.

“The suspect drove into the Tell City Police Department parking lot where he rammed several parked police vehicles before fleeing on foot to his apartment located on Main Street,” state police said.

Tell City Police and the Perry County Sheriff’s Department set up a perimeter around the apartment building.

Masterson was in his second-floor apartment, communicating with police through a second-floor window when he fired a handgun at officers, state police say.

“A Tell City police officer returned fire. Indiana State Police SWAT utilized a drone and confirmed the suspect had suffered an apparent gunshot wound and was no longer a threat,” state police said.

Masterson died of his injuries. An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday.

Police did not identify the officer who fired at Masterson.

No officers were injured during the incident, but state police say two police vehicles were hit by gunfire and four police vehicles were damaged when Masterson rammed them with the stolen pickup truck.

The investigation was ongoing.

News 8 has reached out to the Tell City Police Department for more information.