NEW ALBANY, Ind — New Albany resident Gracie Kaine says she's feeling on edge with multiple, violent incidents happening in her riverfront town.
"It's hard to feel safe on a day-to-day basis when things like this just keep happening," Kaine said. "It's not just here, it's everywhere."
Indiana State Police (ISP) said a fatal confrontation left a man dead on Saturday in New Albany.
The incident began around 5 p.m. when police said 68-year-old Kevin Campbell was inside his home when he heard a tap on his bedroom window. ISP said Campbell believed he knew who the person was and retrieved a small caliber rifle as he answered the door.
There, police said, he was met by 41-year-old Christopher Proctor who unsheathed a two-foot-long, steel sword and began approaching the door toward Campbell. Police said Campbell then fired a shot, striking Proctor in the chest.
Police revealed Campbell and Proctor had known each other for a year.
"They did know each other," said Philip Hensley of Indiana State Police. "He had been in the home before. He had things – personal belongings – inside the home."
Campbell had contacted New Albany police to keep Proctor from coming onto his property, but Proctor allegedly kept showing up, most recently on Friday. Police confirmed that Campbell no longer wanted to associate with him.
"The bigger issue we have is that Mr. Campbell waited almost two hours until contacting law enforcement," Hensley said.
ISP doesn’t know if Campbell will face additional charges but said he was arrested for obstruction of justice, a felony, because he waited to call police.
Campbell is currently booked at the Floyd County Jail.
“With these incidents happening, it does make me feel more on edge and more unsafe living here, which is really unfortunate because I love living here," Kaine said.
The confrontation occurred hours before the community found out about a development in the Harvest Homecoming shooting that killed a teenage boy and injured two others.
According to police, multiple law enforcement agencies including Louisville Metro Police executed search warrants at six locations – four in New Albany, one in Jeffersonville and one in Louisville – Sunday around 6 a.m.
Chief Todd Bailey said the goal was to recover evidence related to the shooting.
So far, two people have been detained and police are withholding their names and charges at this time.
Bailey said several guns have been recovered but did not reveal if any were used in the shooting killing Bryce Gerlach, an 18-year-old Harvest Homecoming attendee who was an innocent bystander when gunfire erupted on Oct. 12. The shooting also left Brendan Hagan and Michelle Nashi injured.
"I am a little bit hesitant to speak before convictions actually happen, but at the same time it does make me feel a little bit safer knowing that the police out here are looking out for us," Kaine said.
Kaine said she was at Harvest Homecoming the same day of the fatal shooting and lives just one mile away.
"I had never felt that level of danger before this incident happened," Kaine said. "I always felt safe in New Albany, until something like that happens so close to home."
Bailey said they are making “great strides” in the investigation and ensures justice for those impacted by the senseless violence.
“Our team has worked tirelessly from the time of the incident to get to where we are today. Cases of this type are complicated and time consuming but our commitment to our community is our primary driving factor,” he said.
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