State Rep. Ed DeLaney speaks about vicious attack

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) - State Representative Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) went to Carmel Tuesday morning to give police a statement regarding the murder attempt he survived on Saturday.

Then DeLaney granted his first interview since the brutal beating to 24-Hour News 8's political reporter Jim Shella.

In it DeLaney explained how he went to Carmel Saturday morning for a business meeting with a man who identified himself as Victor White.

It turned out to be Augustus Mendenhall seeking revenge for a lawsuit filed against his father more than 20 years ago.

Shella asked Delaney, “When you met Augustus Mendenhall on Saturday, you didn't know who he was?”

DeLaney responded, “I had no, I didn't know that such a person existed. I didn't know that the person I had brought suit for a client had children, let alone their names, let alone their age, I had no idea who this was.”

-- Hear from Mendenhall and DeLaney by clicking on the video links in the left margin of the story

And, DeLaney who is now recovering from five broken ribs and two broken bones in his face, soon found out the reason for the meeting was false, too.

“And when he reached into his bag and said he was getting me a retainer I said, no, I said no, you don't need to get me that. I need to talk to you about what it is you want and whether I can help you and he brought out the gun, ok? “

Mendenhall held the gun to DeLaney's head and pulled the trigger. The gun jammed.

“I made a real careful assessment and any action I took was very calm and based upon a careful review of the facts. I decided, I said goodbye to my Lord, to my wife. I said I'm dead, it's over, got that behind me, got myself calm, got my head together and said now I have a chance to try to reverse that result and that's what I'm going to do,” said DeLaney.

It will take weeks to recover from the beating that followed but DeLaney says he's ok.

“We'll come back. That's what we do so we'll just come back. I'll be alright. It'll be fine.”

DeLaney hopes to get back to the Statehouse by the end of the week for a caucus meeting with House Democrats, though he says he'll likely be quieter than normal.