On June 14, 2001, a traffic stop in Morgan County, Indiana, escalated into a violent confrontation that ultimately claimed the life of 46-year-old White male Daniel Robert Starnes. Serving as a Sergeant and Warrant Officer for the Morgan County Sheriff's Department, Starnes initiated a stop of a vehicle near the intersection of Shelton and Wilbur Roads around 12:15 p.m. The driver was a man wanted on an outstanding warrant. During the encounter, the situation deteriorated rapidly when the suspect produced a. 45-caliber handgun. Starnes, who was not wearing a bullet-resistant vest at the time, exchanged gunfire with the assailant.
In the ensuing shootout, Sergeant Starnes was struck four times in the chest. The gunman then turned his weapon toward the patrol car, where Starnes' youngest son, Ryan, was seated. Ryan was participating in a college law enforcement ride-along program and was also struck by the gunfire.
Despite his injuries, the younger Starnes managed to retrieve a service shotgun from the trunk of the police cruiser. He held the suspect at gunpoint until backup units arrived, preventing the attacker's escape. Sergeant Starnes had also managed to return fire during the initial exchange, wounding the suspect seven times.
Both the officer and his son were transported for medical treatment. While Ryan survived the attack, Sergeant Starnes faced a difficult battle for recovery. He was treated at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he remained for nearly a month. Tragically, complications arose from an infection related to his gunshot wounds, and he passed away on July 10, 2001, surrounded by his family. The incident occurred just fifteen minutes after he had reported for duty and took place within eyesight of his own home. He was a veteran of the department with five years of service and had also served for two decades as a lieutenant with the Gregg Township Volunteer Fire Department.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Tommy R. Pruitt, survived his wounds and was taken into custody. Pruitt was charged with murder, attempted murder, and multiple other felonies. In October 2003, a jury convicted him on all counts. Following the conviction, Pruitt was initially sentenced to death for the murder of Sergeant Starnes, in addition to a lengthy prison term for the attempted murder of Ryan Starnes and other offenses.
Years later, the legal outcome for Pruitt shifted. In 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturned his death sentence. The court ruled that Pruitt was intellectually disabled and therefore constitutionally ineligible for capital punishment. Consequently, the case was remanded for resentencing. In 2016, Pruitt was resentenced to a term of 65 years for the murder, to be served consecutively to the 115-year sentence previously imposed for the other convictions. The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed this resentencing in 2017, effectively ensuring that he would spend the remainder of his life in prison.
