At approximately 10:50 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, officers from the Indiana State Police and Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department responded to a disturbance, reported to involve a man armed with a firearm, at 12300 Five Point Road in Jackson Township, said ISP Public Information Officer Stephen Wheeles.

When the Dearborn County Sheriff Deputy Brian Weigel and ISP Trooper Jordan Craig arrived and started to approach the residence, they were confronted by resident Christopher A. Schmitt, 58, who pointed a firearm at the officers, he said.

This resulted in both officers firing their weapons at the suspect. The suspect was struck by at least one of the officers’ rounds, he said.

The officers were able to render immediate first aid to the suspect and he was quickly transported to Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville, for medical treatment, said Wheeles.

After arriving at the hospital, Schmitt was pronounced deceased. The officers were not hurt during the incident, he said.

Weigel has been an officer with the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department for over a year. Craig is a three-year veteran of the Indiana State Police, he said.

Detectives from the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg District will be leading the investigation, he said.

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is being handled by Ric Hertel, prosecuting attorney for Ripley County. Dearborn Circuit Judge James Humphrey made the appointment on Saturday afternoon.

Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney Lynn M. Deddens sought Hertel’s appointment because of the local law enforcement officers involved in this case.