Citizen facing charges for allegedly shooting at shoplifters

Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis T. Hill has filed charges against the man who allegedly shot at a fleeing shoplifter in the parking lot of the Big R store in Elkhart on October 12.

According to investigators, 60-year-old Norman Reynolds and several employees followed two shoplifting suspects from the store into the parking lot.

The two suspects got into a truck and began driving away.

According to investigators, Reynolds then allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired one time at the pickup truck.

The bullet struck the exterior of the passenger compartment.

No one was injured and Reynolds had a license for the firearm.

Elkhart Police investigated the matter and the Office of Prosecuting Attorney received the case on October 26.

On November 10, The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney filed charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and pointing a firearm against Reynolds.
The charges are both level 6 felonies punishable by 6 months to 2.5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney says Reynolds thought he was helping, but his actions were actually reckless and created a significant risk of harm to others.