A 50-year-old Indianapolis man is facing murder, attempted murder and burglary charges after police say he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment on the city’s west side and opened fire, killing her new boyfriend and wounding her.
Bertony Theagene was arrested early Monday morning, Aug. 31, after Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a shooting at an apartment complex on Bayside Drive, according to Law&Crime. Investigators say Theagene forced his way into the apartment where his ex-girlfriend lived and confronted her about having another man there.
Police say Theagene shot the woman before turning the gun on her boyfriend, 32-year-old Venel Emile. According to Fox 59, Emile moved toward Theagene during the confrontation, and Theagene fired again, striking him in the stomach, before fleeing the apartment. Emile died from his injuries. His ex-girlfriend survived the shooting.
Officers found Theagene hiding beneath a stairwell near the apartment shortly after the shooting. Police said he attempted to shoot himself in the head, but the gun malfunctioned, and he surrendered to officers without further incident.
In an interview with police, Theagene said he had gone to the apartment to confront his ex-girlfriend “about having another man over.” He reportedly told investigators that the shootings were unintentional, claiming his ex-girlfriend grabbed for the gun and it discharged during a struggle, and that the shot that hit Emile went off when Emile charged at him. Police have not corroborated that account, and Theagene has been charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder and burglary.
Theagene is being held at the Marion County Jail without bond as the case proceeds through the court system. No trial date has been set.
A Case Still Being Built
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet released additional details on the relationship history between Theagene and his ex-girlfriend or on the timeline leading up to the break-in. Because Theagene has only been charged and not convicted, the specifics of what happened inside the apartment remain allegations at this stage of the case.
BeezLoop News will update this story as charges are formally filed in court and as additional details become available.
