Hoosiers react to State Rep. attack

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - News of the brutal attack on State Representative Ed DeLaney has spread through the community.  Friends and political colleagues are reacting to the unfortunate incident.

Former state and Marion County democrat party chair Kip Tew has known DeLaney for more than 20 years.

"You just can not imagine someone who would have this level of anger toward him," Tew said. "I don't know anybody who doesn't like Ed Delaney. He's a wonderful person, deeply committed to helping other people and he's just a great guy, funny, great sense of humor, fun to be around."

Word of Delaney's beating at the hands of 38 year old Augustus Mendenhall shocked family friend Trish Whitcomb.

"Just the thought that Ed would go with the idea of helping someone and then that person would pull a gun and beat him up is just something that I would never imagine would happen to a fellow like Ed Delaney," Whitcomb said.

Friends are keeping everyone informed.

"We've been going back and forth on text messages with folks trying to figure out what's going on, people wanting to know how he's feeling and things like that. So yes, we've been talking with each other," said Tew.

Those same friends will be monitoring Ed's progress, anxious for news on his recovery and word on what provoked the attack.

Delaney's relatives believe Mendenhall may have been getting back at Delaney for litigation several years ago.

Mendenhall is being held without bond at the Hamilton County jail on a long list of charges including attempted murder and aggravated battery.