Person of interest in Brazil homicide case dies after shooting self

BRAZIL -- A Brazil man was fatally shot Friday and a person of interest in the case is also dead after shooting himself inside a Clay County residence.

The person of interest has been identified as Trevor Ray Okulovich, 21 of Brazil.

The incidents took place in about a 12-hour span beginning early Friday when 27-year-old Eric Hutton of Brazil called 911 after being shot in the chest. Shortly after that 12:04 a.m. call, police arrived to 922 Noble Street in Brazil and found the unresponsive man, later identified as Hutton, at the address. He was transported to St. Vincent Clay Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

As police, including the Brazil City Police Department, Clay County Sheriff's Department and Indiana State Police, investigated the shooting they determined a person of interest. At 1:15 p.m. Friday, they located that person at 601 West Central Ave., Apartment F11, in Brazil.

In a news release, ISP reported authorities then secured the area and tried to get him to come out.

"The individual appeared in the window for a brief time showing both hands," the ISP release states. "He then closed the curtains, and a short time later officers heard a single gunshot. Upon entering the apartment they found one male on the floor of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head."

The person of interest, whose name has not yet been made available, was transported to Terre Haute Regional Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

ISP officials confirm that officers never discharged their firearms during the incident.

As authorities continued their investigation, BCPD Chief Clint McQueen asked the public to avoid the areas where officers were investigating to help speed up the process. He added that there was no perceived public risk and that no motive for either incident has been released.

"It's been several years since our city has had a homicide investigation like this take place," he said. "All of the local agencies are working together to help resolve this matter in an efficient manner."

McQueen said if anyone has information about the case, they should contact the ISP Putnamville Post, the CCSD or his department. The Clay County Justice Center can be reached at 812-446-2535, extension 5.

"We're all working together and we're following up on every lead that we get," McQueen said. "We're going to let the detectives work through all the information before we provide more information about this investigation."

Meanwhile, social media was abuzz with people posting unconfirmed information and speculation about the incident, including naming the victim and an alleged suspect before information was officially released, which concerned officials trying to protect the integrity of the evidence and the investigation.