Clay County standoff ends after 26 hours

Friday, December 4, 2020

BRAZIL — A 26-hour standoff at a hotel ended peacefully Friday afternoon when the suspect surrendered to the Indiana State Police South SWAT Team.

The suspect has been identified as Shannon Jeffers, 40, of West Terre Haute.

Shannon Jeffers

The incident began at approximately 10:15 a.m., on Thursday when a U.S. Marshals task force made up of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Terre Haute Police Department and the Indiana State Police attempted to serve a warrant at the Best Western Plus hotel in Brazil.

Upon officer’s arrival to the hotel, they received information on the suspect’s room number. Officers went to the room and announced their arrival to the suspect, stating they were there to serve a warrant.

The suspect then fired one shot through the door at officers. Officers then retreated, taking cover for their safety and immediately cleared all occupants out of the hotel for their safety as well.

Once this was complete, officers set up a perimeter around the hotel.

Officers from numerous agencies responded to the scene, including the Terre Haute Police Department Special Response Team and Hostage Negotiation Team also responded.

Negotiators were able to make contact with Jeffers and were able to get two other occupants who were inside the hotel room released safely.

At approximately 1 a.m. Friday, the Indiana State Police Central SWAT team relieved the Terre Haute Police Department Special Response Team and took command of the scene. While the Indiana State Police continued the negotiations with the suspect — and the suspect communicated with his personal attorney — tactical techniques to gain voluntary compliance were also deployed.

While these tactical techniques were in use, the suspect continued to fire additional shots toward officers.

Police respond to a hostage situation at the Best Western Plus hotel in Brazil.
The Brazil Times/IVY JACOBS

At approximately 12:30 p.m. Friday, the Jeffers finally surrendered to officers.

The original warrant for Jeffers was issued out of Vigo County for a probation violation on original charges of possession of methamphetamine and a felon in possession of a firearm. Jeffers was taken into custody and transported to the Clay County Jail where he will be facing a charge of Level 1 felony attempted murder, according to Clay County Prosecutor Emily Clarke.

Detectives from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post are leading the investigation into the incident.

Agencies taking part in the operation and investigation also include U.S. Marshals Service, Terre Haute Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police Central and South SWAT teams, Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department, Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department, STAR Ambulance and Clay County Coroner’s Office.

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  • Scroungy loser. Merry Christmas in jail.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Sat, Dec 5, 2020, at 9:46 AM
  • We all make mistakes.

    -- Posted by donantonio on Sat, Dec 5, 2020, at 10:39 AM
  • You call shooting at cops a mistake? You're nuttier than a Christmas fruitcake.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Sat, Dec 5, 2020, at 10:42 AM
  • This is why I wrote in a previous post that you all are crazy. Yes, shooting at police is a mistake. What in the hell is wrong with you Ben Dover????

    -- Posted by donantonio on Sat, Dec 5, 2020, at 7:05 PM
  • Your retort to Queen53 "we all make mistakes" sure sounded like you were trivializing an attempt on a cop's life. If that's not your intent, please explain.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Sat, Dec 5, 2020, at 9:18 PM
  • In the big scheme of life we all make mistakes. Albeit, there are big mistakes and small mistakes--and they all have consequences.

    I did not try to trivialize mortal danger.

    -- Posted by donantonio on Sat, Dec 5, 2020, at 11:03 PM
  • I would consider this a huge mistake. If someone was shot in your family I'm certain that you would not consider that trivial.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Sun, Dec 6, 2020, at 6:25 PM
  • I NEVER said it was trivial. You all have a problem because you read in to it what you think you have read. Yes, it was a huge mistake on this knuckle head for shooting thru a door. But, no one was shot Queen53.

    -- Posted by donantonio on Sun, Dec 6, 2020, at 7:39 PM
  • The suspect fired through the door. The idea behind that was to shoot a cop. "No one was shot." But that was his intent.

    -- Posted by Queen53 on Mon, Dec 7, 2020, at 7:26 AM
  • Per Queen53--your exact quote was--"If someone was shot in your family I'm certain that you would not consider that trivial". This was a complete BS statement from a bean brained nitwit.

    -- Posted by donantonio on Mon, Dec 7, 2020, at 10:19 AM
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