MUNCIE, Ind.–The brother of Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner was killed by police in Muncie Thursday morning. They say Richard Skinner, 45, pointed what appeared to be a gun at them through a window, while the SWAT team was at the house trying to negotiate an end to a domestic situation.
Indiana State Police have taken over the investigation. They did not give any information on the domestic situation, except that by the time police arrived just after 1 a.m., a woman had left.
“When they responded to the scene they located a male inside the residence,” said State Police Sgt. Scott Keegan. That man was later identified as Richard Skinner. He refused to come out of the house.
“Muncie Police Dept. notified their SWAT team and they responded to the scene. Again negotiations were verbal to try to get home to come out of the residents. He refused,” said Keegan. “Shots were fired inside the house and then the subject pointed the gun at officers and they returned fire, striking him.”
Keegan said police tried to help Skinner, but he was pronounced dead. No one else was hurt.
He said officers were certain they saw Skinner point a gun at them through a window.
State Police had not released any officer names as of Thursday afternoon.
Keegan said State Police had taken over the investigation at the request of Muncie Police.
