William J. Gajdik leaves the courtroom after making his initial appearance in Dearborn Circuit Court on October 11.
Mike Perleberg-Eagle 99.3
(St. Leon, Ind.) – Friends are coming together to help out a Dearborn County man who was the victim of a violent crime.
Rob Tibbits was shot in the back last September, allegedly by William Gajdik.
Gajdik, an escaped convict from Nebraska, was confronted by a homeowner whose home on North Dearborn Road he was burglarizing earlier that day. He ran and police began a search throughout the area.
Gajdik allegedly broke into Tibbits’ home on Ruth Avenue in Logan Township about a half-mile away. When Tibbits arrived home, he was shot in the back by Gajdik, who then stole Tibbits’ Ford Thunderbird, investigators said.
Tibbits was aircared to a Cincinnati hospital following the shooting. He remained in the hospital for weeks, even past the time Gajdik was arrested at a motel in Minnesota on October 4.
FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS ON EAGLE 99.3'S COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD PAGE.
Medical bills have been mounting as Tibbits continues to recover. He’s undergone seven surgeries and months of rehabilitation.
The event to raise money to cover the expenses – aptly titled the “Rob Tibbits Home Invasion Benefit” - will be Saturday, February 11 from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the St. Leon American Legion Post 464, 28866 Post Road, St. Leon.
A turkey dinner will be served from 4:00 to 8:00 with carry out available and a free will donation.
The fundraiser will also include music, raffles, split-the-pot, and more. Some of the raffles are for a flat screen television and Blue-Ray player.
People who are unable to attend the event, but would still like to help out can donate to a recovery fund for Rob Tibbits at Cincinnati Employees Credit Union. The address is Rob Tibbits Acct: Special #06, Cincinnati Employees Credit Union, 7420 Kilby Rd. Harrison, OH 45030.
LINKS:
UPDATE: Bright Gunman Assigned $5M Bond
Shooting Suspect Caught In Minn.
Shooting Suspect Steals Car In Iowa
Burglary Suspect Could Still Be In SEI
Person Of Interest In Logan Shooting
North Dearborn Elem. On Lockdown Wednesday
Gunman On The Loose, Community On High Alert
Home Fire on Ridge Avenue
Missing 9-Year-Old Found Dead
Canaan Boy Dies, Parents Injured When Tree Falls on Home During Storm
Suspension Bridge Road Closed To All Truck Traffic
Switzerland Co. BPA Shines at State Leadership Conference
Utility Construction Project Begins in Aurora
