Man involved in Huntingburg shooting charged; admits he was attempting to commit suicide

The man involved in the police action shooting earlier this month admitted to Dubois County Circuit Court Judge Nathan Verkamp he was attempting to commit suicide.

Zachary Peek, 27, of 104 S. Van Buren St., admitted his reasoning behind the incident while requesting Judge Verkamp lower his bond amount to allow him to seek medical assistance outside of jail.

“I need treatment,” Peek said. “I would like the bond to be lowered so I can bond out to get treatment.”

Peek appeared in court with his right arm in a cast from his hand to above his elbow. A bandage was wrapped around the upper bicep of his left arm.

Peek told Verkamp that he suffered from PTSD and verified his only income at the time was the 40 percent disability he received through Veteran’s Affairs. Peek stated he received about $589 each month for that disability in response to the judge’s questioning regarding his ability to pay for his own counsel.

Dubois County Deputy Prosecutor Brian Lucchi, representing the state in the case, told Judge Verkamp the circumstances surrounding the incident caused the state some concern for the safety of the public as well for Peek if he were able to bond out of jail.

Based on this, Judge Verkamp assigned Rahman Law Offices as Peek’s pauper counsel and confirmed the bond would remain at $10,000 for the time being. He advised Peek his attorneys could request that bond be lowered at his next court appearance scheduled for March 3 at 9 a.m.

According to Dubois County Sheriff Donny Lampert, inmates at the security center have access to counseling as well as mental health professionals.

Peek was booked into the Dubois County Security Center Monday after being released from the hospital. The warrant for his arrest listed three charges; a Level 5 felony count of intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony count of pointing a firearm and a Level 6 felony count of criminal recklessness.

The charges stem from a Feb. 2 incident in which Peek initiated a standoff between Huntingburg police officers and was shot when he refused to surrender and eventually pointed a gun at responding officers, according to court documents.

After the incident, court records indicate police learned the weapon Peek had pointed at the officers was “an air gun pistol, commonly referred (to) as a BB gun” that had a revolver-style appearance and a long barrel.

That day, at about 2 p.m., Officer Tyler Stivers received a message on Facebook from Peek to meet him at League Stadium at Huntingburg City Park. Stivers was concerned about the nature of the message due to previous encounters with Peek. He requested that his immediate supervisor, Officer Tim Mullen, accompany him to the park.

When the officers arrived at the stadium’s eastern parking lot, they found Peek standing beside a green truck.

According to court documents, Peek was pacing in front of the truck and when the officers approached he stated “you’re going to want to get back.”

While talking with Peek, Stivers observed what appeared to be a handgun tucked into Peek’s waistband. According to police, Peek placed his hand on the weapon’s handle and both officer drew their service weapons.

They attempted to get Peek to calm down and put the weapon on the ground but he would not comply.

Court documents indicate the officers backed away from Peek to get into better tactical positions. They went towards their patrol vehicles and once there, Stivers, an Air Force veteran, retrieved his long rifle from the car and the officers established a perimeter.

The officers requested support and Detective Sgt. Christian Gogel arrived at the scene and took position behind a tree.

The officers continued to attempt to placate Peek and get him to put the handgun on the ground. According to court documents, after several unsuccessful attempts to get Peek to disarm himself, Peek pulled the handgun from his waistband and started to advance towards the officers. The officers ordered him to stop but Peek refused and said “yeah, this is going to end.”

He then took a shooting stance, according to police, and raised the weapon at the officers. Gogel and Stivers then each shot one round at Peek who appeared to be hit at least one time, according to court documents.

The officers again ordered Peek to put his gun on the ground but he refused and raised the weapon, according to court documents.

Both officers shot again and Peek fell to the ground.

The officers then approached and were able to secure the weapon. They began to render first aid to Peek’s multiple wounds and requested Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services and Huntingburg Volunteer Fire Department first responders to the scene.

Peek was taken to Memorial Hospital and then transferred by LifeFlight helicopter to an Evansville facility.

According to Huntingburg Police Chief Art Parks, today’s admission in court was the first time he heard from Peek that he was attempting to commit suicide by police officers. He and the officers involved had suspected that was Peek’s intention during the incident, though.

All the officers involved have attended special counseling stemming from the incident and have since, returned to regular duty.

“All of them have had a little trouble with the incident,” he said.

He added that this was the best outcome for a bad situation in that Peek and the officers are all alive.

“If a guy wants to do something you can’t stop that from happening,” Parks said. “Our part is to protect the public.”

“I think it went down the best it could,” he added. “I don’t know if we could have done anything different.”

After his appearance in circuit court Tuesday, Peek stepped across the hall into the Dubois County Superior Courtroom to be charged in a misdemeanor theft investigation.

According to the investigation, Peek took $220 worth of lotter tickets from the Casey’s Convenience Store on Jan. 16. Peek worked for the store at the time but was off-duty when the theft occurred, according to court documents.

Judge Mark McConnell formerly charge Peek with Class A misdemeanor theft and assigned a $500 cash bond. He also scheduled Peek’s next hearing for Mar. 3 at 9 a.m., the same time as his next circuit court appearance for the shooting case.