TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — An Indiana man charged with murdering a Terre Haute police officer and attempting to burn down an FBI building with a Molotov cocktail has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Shane Meehan is charged in the death of Officer Greg Ferency on July 7, 2021.
Ferency was a detective with the Terre Haute Police Department who was working with an FBI task force.
The FBI said Ferency was ambushed at the FBI Indianapolis Resident Agency in Terre Haute when he was shot and killed. According to court documents, Meehan drove his truck to the federal building, got out and threw a Molotov cocktail, then shot Ferency, who later died of his injuries.
According to court documents, an FBI agent inside the office heard the shots, came out and got into a gun battle with Meehan. Meehan was reportedly hit twice and managed to get to his truck and drive to the hospital. He underwent surgery for his wounds and was later taken into custody.
(NOTE: The video at the top of this story is from the day of Ferency's funeral in 2021).
The judge found Meehan "is presently suffering from a mental disease rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and the consequences of the proceedings against him or assist properly in his defense."
Meehan will be hospitalized for up to four months "as is necessary to determine" if he'll likely ever be well enough for a trial to move forward. The facility where Meehan is being treated will send the court a report within four months, after which a hearing will be set on the future of the case.
What we know about Meehan
Search warrants were executed at Meehan's home, and the FBI said evidence was found. When searching his truck, investigators found a gun, along with three Molotov cocktails and additional ammunition.
According to WTWO, Meehan is a father of three. He retired from the Terre Haute Federal Penitentiary and then worked at UPS.
Meehan ran for mayor of Terre Haute in 2019 but lost. 13News was also able to obtain a mugshot of Meehan from a 2013 trespassing and criminal intoxication arrest. His charges were dismissed in Marion County because he went into diversion.
Who was Detective Ferency?
Ferency served the Terre Haute Police Department for 30 years. He was also assigned to an FBI task force on behalf of the Terre Haute Police Department since 2010. Ferency leaves behind two adult children, Payton and Nick Ferency.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers representing agencies from across the state attended Ferency's funeral. It was a powerful and moving show of unified support.
According to Ferency's obituary, "(he) was an avid reader, who loved to travel and enjoyed the Colts and the Cubs. He was a friend to all whom he met."
In December 2021, his children received Ferency's FBI Memorial Star.
