Officer-Involved Shooting at Evansville Regional Airport Leaves Pierre Robson Barthelemy Critically Injured

Accident – Death – Obituary News : EPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Anna Gray held a news conference on Monday afternoon to provide details about an officer-involved shooting that occurred at the Evansville Regional Airport over the weekend. The incident left the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Pierre Robson Barthelemy, critically injured. Sgt. Gray shared a timeline of events and played a compilation video containing body camera footage and the initial 911 call.

According to the EPD, Barthelemy was in a personal crisis and had allegedly stolen from a Greyhound bus employee prior to the incident. He was also banned from a local women and children’s shelter property. Crisis intervention and negotiation-trained officers were brought to the scene after midnight on Saturday.

A Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to keep Barthelemy talking in order to get him medical care for his injured hand. However, Barthelemy was holding a 4-inch knife and had threatened airport personnel. He also engaged in destructive behavior, slashing furniture and shouting obscenities at the police, as shown in the body camera footage.

During the 15-minute negotiation, Barthelemy expressed his desire to return to Haiti, but he did not have the proper paperwork or identification to purchase a ticket. Sgt. Gray stated that he appeared to be in some sort of crisis mode, although she could not comment on his mental health history.

The situation escalated when Barthelemy suddenly stood up and shouted at the officers. He was perceived as a threat, and several officers pointed weapons at him. Some had standard lethal rounds, while others had “less lethal” rounds such as pepper balls or a taser. Both types of rounds were fired at Barthelemy when he advanced towards the officers with the knife.

Barthelemy is currently in the hospital and will face charges of intimidation with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement with a deadly weapon, disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief once he is released. The investigation is still ongoing, and three different agencies are involved.

Sgt. Gray emphasized that the shooting incident and Barthelemy’s conduct are being investigated according to department policy. She also mentioned that contact will be attempted with Barthelemy’s relatives, as he has been in Evansville since November 8th.

During the news conference, Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson and deputies from the VCSO, as well as Indiana State Police Troopers, were present. These agencies were also involved in the shooting incident.

The EPD provided an updated news release with a detailed account of the events leading up to the shooting. It stated that Barthelemy had been causing a disturbance inside the airport lobby, threatening airport personnel with a knife, and destroying furniture. Law enforcement officers from the EPD, VCSO, and ISP arrived at the scene and encountered Barthelemy holding the knife. The EPD officers requested a less lethal option, and a negotiation ensued.

Despite numerous commands to drop the knife, Barthelemy refused and even made a stabbing motion towards his own head. The situation escalated when Barthelemy yelled obscenities at the officers and suddenly moved towards them with the knife. In response, three EPD officers, one VCSO deputy, and one ISP trooper fired their weapons. An EPD officer also deployed a Conducted Electrical Weapon (Taser), and two officers fired less-lethal pepper ball launchers.

Life-saving measures were administered to Barthelemy on the scene before he was transported to the hospital. No officers or civilians were injured during the incident, and all three EPD officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

It was revealed that Barthelemy had a previous encounter with law enforcement on November 8th when he was arrested for stealing a bag from a Greyhound bus driver. He was later released but was barred from a local shelter for women and children after attempting to gain access.

The EPD emphasized that Barthelemy will face multiple charges once he is medically released and taken to the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center. The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be provided as they become available..