An Indianapolis man was detained at Williams Dam in Lawrence County on Monday evening after a conservation officer heard gunfire and responded. Van Kio, 20, is charged with various felonies, including criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon (Level 5 felony) and possession of a stolen firearm (Level 5 felony).
According to an affidavit for probable cause filed by Indiana Conservation Officer Ryan T. Jahn, he was on duty at Williams Dam at 7:30 p.m. when he heard three bullets fired from a gun near the river. Officer Jahn was conversing with a family, which included two children, at the lower boat ramp. The family reportedly raced to their vehicle in fright after hearing the first gunfire. Two more gunshots followed.
Related posts
Officer Jahn moved up the parking lot and walked to the river’s edge, where he saw three Asian men. One of the suspects, later identified as Van Kio, was carrying a handgun magazine. Officer Jahn approached them, instructed them to maintain their hands in the air, and inquired about the firearm. Kio stated that it was in his pocket.
Officer Jahn recovered a Taurus 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine from Kio’s right leg pocket, as well as another filled pistol magazine from his left leg pocket. Kio acknowledged firing all three shots at a glass bottle on the riverbank, and Officer Jahn noted where the bottle had shattered into the water.
At the time of the incident, two other men were fishing about 50 yards upriver. Although no one was directly across the river in the line of fire, Officer Jahn pointed out that people frequently camp and fish in that direction. The DNR has classified both banks of the river near Williams Dam as public access land, and signs restrict firearm discharge.
An inquiry found that the Taurus G3C 9×19 pistol was returned as stolen in Indianapolis. When asked about the rifle, Kio claimed his uncle gave it to him on his 18th birthday, giving only a nickname for the uncle and adding that he was returning to Burma.
Kio was arrested, handcuffed, and taken to Lawrence County Jail for booking. He apparently cooperated with police and apologized. Kio was also cited for firing into or across a public waterway, a Class C misdemeanor; shooting where forbidden, a Class C infraction; and failing to have a resident fishing license, a Class C violation. The other people with Kio also received fishing violation tickets.
A probable cause The affidavit describes the first discoveries and claims that lead to an arrest. Criminal charges are only accusations, and the offender is deemed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
