Chief justice to judges after shooting in Lafayette: ‘Please remain vigilant’

Chief Justice Loretta Rush: ‘Any violence against a judge or a judge’s family is completely unacceptable.' No additional details Monday morning on suspect, motive, after Judge Meyer was shot Sunday

Jan 19, 2026

Update: 10 a.m. Monday

As the investigation continued into a Sunday afternoon shooting incident at the Lafayette home of Judge Steve Meyer and his wife, Kim Meyer – police had not offered additional updates as of Monday morning on a suspect, any arrests or motive – Indiana Supreme Court Justice Loretta Rush sent a letter to all judges in the state, telling them to take precautions.

Rush, a Lafayette resident and former Tippecanoe Superior Court 3 judge, told judges across Indiana that Meyer was “a longtime friend.”

“I am deeply grateful he and his wife Kim are alive after having been shot in their home,” Rush wrote. “Their health and well-being are of utmost concern to me.”

Rush, who has spoken in the past year about threats to courtroom security and the judiciary are a growing concern, asked judges to be in contact with their local sheriffs. (In interviews in fall 2025, Rush told reporters, “Court security and threats to the judiciary in my time as a judge are at an all-time high.”)

“I worry about the safety of all our judges,” Rush wrote in Sunday night’s letter. “As you work to peacefully resolve more than 1 million cases a year, you must not only feel safe, you must also be safe. Any violence against a judge or a judge’s family is completely unacceptable. As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.

“I know you join me in praying for Steve and Kim and their speedy recovery. Meantime, please remain vigilant in your own security.”

Here’s more from Sunday evening’s reporting …

Judge shot at his Lafayette home Sunday, investigation continues

A Tippecanoe County judge and his wife were said to be in stable condition Sunday evening after being shot at the doorway to their Lafayette home that afternoon.

Lafayette police say they responded at 2:17 p.m. Sunday to a report of a shot fired in the 1700 block of Mill Pond Lane.

Police said two people, a man and a woman, were injured in the shooting. Police did not give details about the extent of the injuries, saying that both people were initially taken to a Lafayette hospital and were reported in stable condition Sunday afternoon.

As of 11 p.m. Sunday, police had not released the names of the victims or the status of the investigation, including whether a suspect had been arrested or was still on the run.

But friends and neighbors contacted by BiL said the shooting was at the home of Steve Meyer, the Tippecanoe County Superior Court 2 judge, and his wife, Kim.

Sunday afternoon, Steve Meyer had been transferred to an Indianapolis hospital where he was being treated for his wounds, according to people who’d spoken to his family.

Police did not offer details about whether the shooting was a targeted attack or had been a random act. They also did not address what, if any, additional security measures were in place for other judges and public officials in the community.

After the shooting, Lafayette police blocked the two South Fourth Street entrances to Saw Mill Run subdivision into the evening. Residents arriving Sunday afternoon were turned away, with several of them waiting in the parking lot of Mary Lou Donuts.

Meyer has been judge in Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 for 12 years. He’s in the final year of his second six-year term. Meyer, a Democrat, announced in December that he didn’t plan to run for a third term in 2026.

Superior Court 2 handles major criminal cases, including murders and level 1 through 5 felonies. The court also hears cases in dissolution of marriage and family law matters, as well as assorted civil cases.

Meyer was a Lafayette City Council member for 23 years before he was on the bench.

In his announcement that he planned to serve his final year before retiring, Meyer said, “I will forever be grateful to the residents of Tippecanoe County for providing me the privilege of serving them for 35 years. It has truly been an opportunity of a lifetime. I hope they will continue to support women and men of good character who seek to serve with honor, dedication and integrity.”

Lafayette police asked that anyone with information tied to the shooting should call the department at (765) 807-1200.

This story will be updated as additional information is available.