In the quiet community of Dupont, Indiana, the early morning hours of June 22, 2021, were shattered by the sound of gunfire, leaving a 35-year-old man, Dustin B. Lindner, dead and unraveling a story of motorcycle club rivalries and a meticulously planned confrontation that spiraled into a fatal encounter. Lindner, a Caucasian male from Georgetown, Kentucky, was a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club.
His death was the tragic culmination of a dispute over club insignia, a conflict that pitted members of the Pagans and the Warlocks motorcycle clubs against a man they believed was falsely representing their affiliations.
The origins of the deadly shootout can be traced to a tense encounter at a gas station in North Vernon, Indiana. Michael J. 'Billy Goat' Karnuth, the president of the 'Heavy Hitters' chapter of the Warlocks, confronted a man who was displaying tattoos and patches associated with the club. Believing the man to be an imposter, Karnuth became fixated on retaliating. Over the ensuing weeks, he orchestrated a plan, gathering information on the man's whereabouts and enlisting the help of fellow Warlocks members David K. 'Karate Dave' Faulkner, Jason W. 'Dutch' Brewer, and Gary W. 'Mouth' Fletcher, as well as Lindner from the Pagans. Armed with handguns, knives, and handcuffs, the group descended on a residence on John Deere Road in Dupont, intending to confront and assault the man.
However, their intended victim was prepared for their arrival. As the group approached the residence, a shootout erupted, and in the exchange of gunfire, Lindner was struck in the chest and killed. In the chaotic aftermath, the surviving members of the group fled the scene, their two vehicles colliding as they made their escape. They attempted to conceal their involvement by disposing of weapons and other evidence in cornfields and bodies of water, but their efforts were ultimately futile. The investigation, a collaborative effort by the Indiana State Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, and the Jefferson County Prosecutor's Office, quickly identified the individuals involved.
The legal repercussions were severe and far-reaching. Michael Karnuth, the ringleader of the operation, was arrested while hiding out at a Warlock house in Rising Sun. In February 2023, a jury found him guilty of murder, attempted burglary, attempted robbery, and obstruction of justice. The court handed down a sentence of 120 years in prison, a term that was enhanced due to his leadership role in a criminal organization. David Faulkner, another key participant, entered into a plea agreement in May 2023, pleading guilty to a lesser charge of attempt to commit burglary with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison with a portion of that time to be served in community corrections and on probation. Jason Brewer, Gary Fletcher, and another associate, Jordan Lowe, who was charged with assisting the group after the fact, also faced the consequences of their involvement, with court proceedings leading to their own legal resolutions. The man who was the target of the attack was not charged, as he was determined to have acted in self-defense.
