A Monroe County man has died after being shot in the chest during an apparent domestic dispute with another family member, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is still under active investigation, and will be reviewed by the Monroe County Prosecutor’s office to determine if the shooting was in a self-defense, or if charges are warranted, according to the MSCO.
Around 9:01 p.m. Saturday night the MCSO responded to the 3600 block of North Lauren Lane in Monroe County where they discovered 56-year-old Donald Francis Jr. laying in a driveway with a single gunshot wound to the chest. According to a Monday morning press release, a family member was attempting to render aid.
The MSCO said it appeared there was a domestic dispute outside the residence, and Francis had exited the residence holding a hand gun when another family member retrieved their own handgun from under the seat of vehicle in the driveway and shot Francis once in the chest. Francis had pointed his handgun at the person who shot him just prior to being shot, according to the MCSO.
Two individuals at the scene were taken to the MSCO to be interviewed by detectives, and they were later released. The MSCO said the accounts given by the two individuals were similar, and the name of the person who shot Francis is not being released at this time. The third person at the scene, not involved in the shooting, told authorities independently that Francis had pointed a handgun prior to being shot.
At the scene, The Ellettsville Fire Department, and IU Health Bloomington EMS workers, took over aid, but Monroe County Coroner Joani Shields pronounced Francis deceased at 9:58 p.m. An autopsy is scheduled for April 6, 2020, and the case will be reviewed by investigators after autopsy results are available.
A Google search revealed that Donald Francis Jr. is an attorney specializing in adoptions.
