In the line of duty, 45-year-old Terre Haute Police Officer Robert 'Rob' Pitts, a male, was fatally shot on May 4, 2018. A 16-year veteran of the department, Pitts was part of a team investigating a homicide that had occurred earlier that day. The investigation led officers to the Garden Quarters Apartments where they sought to apprehend a suspect.
Upon their arrival, the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Christopher Wolfe, opened fire on the officers as they approached the apartment
complex. Officer Pitts was struck by the gunfire and was immediately transported to Terre Haute Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The other officers on the scene returned fire.
Following the initial exchange of gunfire, Wolfe barricaded himself inside an apartment. Several hours later, a special response team entered the residence and found Wolfe deceased. An autopsy later confirmed that Wolfe died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. It was determined that one of the four shots fired by Wolfe was the one that fatally wounded Officer Pitts. The two officers who returned fire were cleared of any wrongdoing, with the prosecutor deeming their actions as self-defense.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Wolfe's girlfriend had initially misled police by stating he was unarmed. She later admitted to knowing he had a weapon and was subsequently charged. In November 2019, she received a one-year sentence followed by probation for her role in the events leading to the tragic death of Officer Pitts.
