Franklin Co. Prosecutor Clears Officers In Fatal Shooting

By Mike Perleberg The home near Brookville where police officers fatally shot Donald Parker, Jr. on Wednesday, February 8. Photo submitted. (Brookville, Ind.) - The will be no charges against two Brookville officers involved in the fatal shooting of an armed man last month. Donald Parker, Jr. was shot by officers Terry Mitchum and Lucas Richardson when Parker’s grandmother requested police go to her home along State Road 101 on the morning of February 8. Indiana State Police investigators said Parker, 29, pointed a firearm in the direction of the officers, who fired on him. Parker was hit and later died at a hospital in Richmond. Franklin County Prosecutor Mel Wilhelm tells Eagle Country 99.3 he reviewed the state police’s findings of the officer-involved shooting on Monday. “After reviewing the police report and consulting with the all the Indiana State Police personnel involved in the investigation it is my decision not to pursue any criminal proceedings against any of the officers involved in the shooting.  It is my opinion that all of the officers acted appropriately under the circumstances, and that the shooting was completely justified,” said Wilhelm. Before closing the case, the prosecutor quizzed the investigators on everything surrounding the events. “I asked ‘If you were in that situation, what would you have done?’ They said ‘We would have done the same thing.’ They acted appropriately,” said Wilhelm. Officers Mitchum and Richardson had been on paid administrative leave following the shooting. Brookville Police Department Chief Tim Wilkerson said Monday they returned to duty about a week after the shooting. The two were professionally evaluated and determined to be fit for duty, he said. “Both officers are doing well,” said Wilkerson. Wilkerson is a 17-year veteran of the Brookville Police Department. Mitchum has 2 ½ years experience with the department. Local law enforcement was familiar with Parker form run-ins prior to the February 8 incident. He had several convictions dating back to at least 2010 for charges ranging from Resisting Law Enforcement to Disorderly Conduct. Parker was facing trial for a December 2016 incident in which he allegedly kicked an officer in the groin. RELATED STORIES: State Police: Man Pointed Weapon Before Shot By Brookville Officers UPDATE: Suspect Dead After Officer-Involved Shooting In Franklin Co.