Two North Vernon men involved in an incident in which multiple shots were fired at a homeowner Tuesday in western Jennings County have been arrested, police report.

David Eggert, 18, faces preliminary Level 2 felony charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a felon, a Level 4 felony charge of criminal recklessness and a Level 6 felony charge of theft, while Alex Mullikin, 26, faces a Level 6 felony theft charge.

The arrests followed an incident reported to police at about 1:12 a.m. Tuesday near County Road 1000W in Spencer Township, according to a news release from Chief Deputy David Turner with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

Mullikin was arrested a short time after the incident when he was found walking in the area. He was booked into the Jennings County Jail and being held on $1,055 bond, police said.

Officers from the Bartholomew and Jackson County sheriff’s department and North Vernon and Seymour police departments and Indiana State Police troopers responded to the area to assist in the search for the second suspect, who had left the scene before police arrived.

Eggert was later seen walking on Hoosier Street in North Vernon but fled after being ordered to stop by Sgt. Cody Low with the North Vernon Police Department.

During that pursuit, Eggert pulled out a handgun, which was recovered from underneath a vehicle. Eggert was eventually caught by Low’s dog, Axle, and booked into the jail. He was being held without bond Wednesday pending his initial hearing. Eggert also was being held on a parole warrant.

Turner said police believe Eggert stole a vehicle in Spencer Township and the handgun there before he went to North Vernon.

Officers investigating the original incident in Spencer Township were able to determine a vehicle that was parked in front of the address had been reported stolen from Medora, Turner said.

During the course of the investigation, officers learned the homeowner had come home and found that vehicle in the middle of the road, police reported.

The homeowner told police he checked his house and property looking for the owner of the vehicle and eventually located a man hiding in his yard.

The man opened fire on the homeowner with a small-caliber firearm. The property owner returned fire, at which time the suspect fled, Turner said.

No injuries were reported, and the homeowner was not arrested.

Find the story in Thursday’s Tribune and online at tribtown.com.