After a thorough investigation of a deadly shooting that occurred around midnight Saturday in Salem, investigators with the Indiana State Police and the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office determined the subject in custody acted in self-defense.
In the interest of justice, no criminal charges will result from the investigation conducted in this matter, and Blake Howard Henry of Salem was released from custody Monday.
In a justified homicide report from the Washington County prosecutor, a fatal shooting occurred at 506 N. College Ave. on the late hours of Saturday evening into the early hours of Sunday morning. Officers from the Salem Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police arrived on scene shortly thereafter.
It was determined the homeowner, Henry, shot Jacob Mitchell inside the home. Two adult females also were inside the home at the time of the shooting. The events that occurred were witnessed solely by those inside the home, investigators said.
Henry and the two females were taken to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and interviewed by ISP detectives. Multiple officers and crime scene detectives remained on scene until Sunday morning.
Given the domestic nature of the investigation and information learned, it was necessary and appropriate for law enforcement to arrest Henry. He was booked into the Washington County Detention Center in the early morning hours of Sunday on the charge of murder.
Since Henry’s arrest, the investigation continued and the prosecutor’s office worked hand in hand with law enforcement to analyze all evidence collected in this investigation to date to ensure an appropriate charging decision could be made within the time constraints of the criminal justice system. Police were able to determine Henry had been battered by Mitchell multiple times during the late-night incident.
Police said Mitchell also battered one of the females and had shattered a glass cabinet in a fit of rage. One woman inside said she had “never seen anyone act like that before” and that Mitchell was “hurting everyone inside the home and we didn’t know what he was going to do.”
Mitchell was physically charging at Henry when Henry fired the fatal shots, police said.
Henry immediately called 911 and can be heard issuing commands to “apply pressure,” as all inside engaged in life-saving measures. Henry repeatedly urged emergency personnel to come quickly to attempt to save Mitchell.
It was learned the residence is rented by Henry, and he had allowed Mitchell to stay since Mitchell had gotten into legal trouble in Lawrence County in a case alleging domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend.
Mitchell also has a prior domestic battery conviction against a different victim from January 2023 in Lawrence County.