EVANSVILLE — An 18-year-old Evansville man was arrested early Wednesday on attempted murder charges. Police say he shot a man in near an alleyway Tuesday night in an alleged dispute over a debt.
Officers booked Bradin M. Gunther into the Vanderburgh County jail just after 4 a.m. following the late-night shooting in the 200 block of East Florida Street that also led to the arrest of a second man — and the discovery of what Evansville Police Department officials described as an “improvised explosive device.”
As of Wednesday morning, prosecutors had yet to file formal charges against Gunther, who is being held at the jail without bond pending an initial hearing.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Evansville Police Detective Jordan Helfert, officers were dispatched to a residence at 214 E. Florida St. just before midnight Tuesday following reports of shots fired. The 911 caller reportedly told dispatchers someone shot at her boyfriend.
Officers found the man in an alley behind the residence with a wound to his left leg, which Helfert described as a “graze,” consistent with a bullet strike.
What police say happened
The man reportedly told investigators he had come to the East Florida Street address that night to help a friend move items. After knocking on the garage door in the alley and getting no answer, he began to leave. As he neared Lafayette Avenue, Gunther emerged from the backyard into the alley, the affidavit states.
The man recognized Gunther as the son of Christopher Gunther, according to the affidavit, which states the man had recently been accused of owing Christopher Gunther money. The affidavit does not describe the alleged debt in detail nor does it disclose how police learned of it.
As the man walked away, Bradin Gunther allegedly produced a black handgun with an extended magazine, Helfert wrote in the affidavit. The man told police he drew a knife in self-defense. According to the man’s account of what happened next, Bradin Gunther fired once and missed. The man ran, and Bradin Gunther fired again, grazing the man in his lower left leg.
According to the affidavit, Christopher Gunther was present during the shooting and reportedly told his son, “No Bradin, don’t,” prior to the shooting.
The wounded man’s girlfriend — who would soon call 911 — told police she had been present in the alley, hid behind a fence and witnessed the shooting. Helfert said she described the shooter as a younger man, whom she referred to as “Gunny’s son,” wearing a black mask and carrying a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine.
While officers were still on scene, they observed Bradin Gunther exit the East Florida Street residence and get into a dark-colored SUV, heading west. In a news release published Wednesday morning, EPD Sgt. Taylor Merriss described the SUV as being an “Uber.” Sgt. Blake Hollins conducted a traffic stop and identified Bradin Gunther as a passenger.
“A firearm was not found on Bradin’s person,” Helfert wrote in the affidavit. “I attempted a Post-Miranda Interview with Bradin at EPD HQ but he refused to speak and requested an attorney.”
After obtaining a search warrant, investigators searched the East Florida Street residence and allegedly recovered a black Glock 43X handgun with an extended magazine in a rear bedroom dresser drawer with nine rounds in its magazine. The homeowner allegedly told detectives she knew Bradin Gunther to possess a black handgun.
EPD: Search of home leads to second arrest and IED discovery
The search of the East Florida Street residence first entailed officers surrounding the home and calling out to any occupants to exit.
“Ten people and five dogs exited the home,” Merriss wrote in Wednesday’s news release. “Those individuals told officers that a wheelchair-bound relative remained inside the residence.”
They also reportedly told officers another man, 28-year-old Zachary M.A. Morell, remained inside the home. Merriss said Morell had active warrants, prompting officers to take him into custody. A search of court records on Wednesday turned up one warrant for failing to appear in a driving-with-a-suspended-license case first filed in January.
With Morell out of the home, investigators began the search as part of the Bradin Gunther investigation. Besides the Glock handgun, they reported finding “an improvised explosive device” inside the residence, according to Merriss.
“Morell admitted to constructing the explosive device,” Merriss wrote. “Bomb technicians responded to the scene and safely removed the device. The Evansville Fire Department also responded to assist and safely removed the wheelchair-bound individual from the home.”
Merriss went on to describe the wheelchair-bound person as “severely malnourished and in need of immediate medical attention.” It was not immediately clear Wednesday if police had opened an investigation into the person’s care or condition.
After declining to speak with detectives, officers transported Bradin Gunther to the Vanderburgh County jail. During booking, officers reported finding a black ski mask on Gunther’s person along with a small amount of marijuana, according to his arrest affidavit.
Gunther was booked on one count each of attempted murder, a Level 1 felony, and possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.
Houston may be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: A shooting and an ‘IED’ — Evansville teen faces attempted murder charge
Reporting by Houston Harwood, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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