On a cold December morning in Indianapolis, a confrontation over a stolen tow truck turned fatal, ending the life of 35-year-old Steven Wooden. The incident unfolded around 8:30 a.m. on December 31st when tow truck driver Steven Roe, who was 32 at the time, spotted his yellow Ford flatbed tow truck which had been reported stolen days earlier. Inside the vehicle, at the intersection of Miller and Hiatt Streets, was Steven Wooden.
Roe, accompanied by a friend, had been actively searching
for his stolen truck. Upon finding it, Roe exited his vehicle and shouted at Wooden, 'Hey, that's my truck!'. According to Roe's account to the police, Wooden raised his hands. It was at this moment that Roe opened fire multiple times, striking Wooden. The aftermath of the shooting left the tow truck's back, front, and driver's side windows shattered. Emergency services were called, and Wooden was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Roe remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived. When officers saw he was armed, they inquired who the shooter was, to which Roe responded, 'I am.' He was then arrested. Investigators later learned that while Roe possessed a valid permit for his weapon, Wooden was unarmed at the time of the shooting. Roe claimed he fired because he believed Wooden had a weapon.
Following the investigation, on January 3rd, Marion County prosecutors filed a murder charge against Steven Roe. In his initial court appearance on Friday, December 4th, Roe pleaded not guilty. He was scheduled to be back in court on February 15th.
