At approximately 1:20 p.m. Thursday, a Detective with the Lebanon Police Department observed a Red 2000 Ford F-550 that had been reported stolen out of Tippecanoe County. It was believed that the vehicle was being operated by Paul A. Etter, 55 of Lafayette. Etter was wanted on multiple warrants out of Tippecanoe County and was believed to be armed and dangerous.
Lebanon Police Officers initiated a high-risk traffic stop on the Red Ford F-550 on County Road 300 North, just west of State Road 39 at approximately 1:26 p.m. After coming to a stop, Etter put a handgun to his head and refused commands to drop the weapon. Shortly after, the Boone County Special Response Team was requested to assist.
After a brief amount of time, Etter pulled the Ford F-550 approximately 40 yards into a field on the northwest corner of the intersection. Etter exited the vehicle with the handgun in his hand. Officers and Negotiators spoke with Mr. Etter for several hours, attempting to bring this to a peaceful resolution.
After negotiations began to regress, the Special Response Team was positioned to try and take Etter into custody. Etter fired two shots from his handgun, the first one at 6:12 p.m. and the second one at 6:17 p.m. Etter was declared deceased by paramedics with Boone County EMS and the Boone County Coroner’s Office.
This is an ongoing investigation, as Crime Scene Investigators and Detectives are processing the scene. Etter was wanted out of Tippecanoe County for Rape, Kidnapping, Criminal Confinement, Sexual Battery, and Interfering with Reporting a Crime.
Assisting Agencies: Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Whitestown Police Department, Zionsville Police Department, Thorntown Police Department, Indiana State Police, Indiana State Excise Police, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, Fishers Police Department, Noblesville Police Department, Boone County Emergency Management Agency, Boone County EMS, Lebanon Fire Department, Zionsville Fire Department, Boone County Special Response Team, Boone County Crisis Negotiation Team, and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.