On a Friday evening, August 14, 2015, in the small town of South Whitley, Indiana, the life of 29-year-old Adam Wade Porter was cut short by a fatal shooting. The incident occurred at the West Buckeye Street residence of 62-year-old David Hagan. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Porter deceased in the backyard of the home.
The initial investigation revealed that Hagan was the one who shot Porter. He claimed that the shooting was an act of self-defense.
According to court records, there was a history of animosity between the two men. On the night of the shooting, Hagan, who had been drinking, answered his door to find Porter and was holding a gun. A struggle ensued over the weapon, during which Porter was shot in the head.
Following the shooting, the Whitley County Prosecutor's Office announced that a grand jury would be convened to review the evidence in Adam Porter's death. Hagan was initially released from police custody pending the full investigation. Ultimately, he was charged with murder and reckless homicide.
David Hagan's jury trial began in May 2016. In 2016, he was convicted of reckless homicide. The court sentenced him to a four-year term in the Indiana Department of Corrections. An appeal of his conviction was later upheld by the Indiana Court of Appeals in May 2017. In August of 2017, Adam Porter's family filed a lawsuit against Hagan, seeking financial compensation for the loss of their son.
