In a tragic turn of events on a late Sunday evening in Jennings County, what began as a domestic disturbance escalated, leaving a father dead and his son in custody. Robert “Matthew” Montgomery, a 53-year-old male, was fatally shot on February 9, 2025, outside a residence in the 4000 block of East Private Road 450S. Responding to reports of gunfire shortly after 10 p.m., officers from the Jennings County Sheriff's Office, North Vernon Police Department, and Indiana State Police arrived to
find Montgomery deceased from a gunshot wound.
The investigation suggests the incident began with a heated altercation inside the home between Robert's son, 30-year-old Conner M. Montgomery, an adult female, and two children. During the dispute, Conner allegedly brandished a firearm, firing a shot inside the house. When the woman attempted to flee with the children, Conner reportedly shot at her vehicle, disabling it. Before law enforcement was alerted to the escalating situation, Robert Montgomery was called to the scene. Tragically, upon his arrival, he was allegedly shot and killed by his son while standing outside the home.
After the shooting, Conner Montgomery was taken into custody by the officers who had surrounded the residence. He now faces a slate of serious charges, including murder, criminal confinement with a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, domestic battery in the presence of minors, neglect of a dependent, and pointing a firearm. He was subsequently incarcerated in the Jennings County Jail to await his initial appearance in the Jennings County Circuit Court. The investigation into the fatal shooting is being led by detectives from the Jennings County Sheriff's Office and the Indiana State Police.
