Man, woman shot during exchange of gunfire with authorities near Evansville

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A man and woman were shot during an exchange of gunfire with authorities near Evansville Friday night.

According to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was called to the intersection of Duesner and Zimmerman Roads in Union Township Friday around 8:45 a.m. on reports of two vehicles stuck on the railroad tracks. That’s about 8 miles southwest of Evansville.

A man, who identified himself to the deputy as 28-year-old Cade Kirk, and a woman at the scene fled the area on foot. Authorities later learned the vehicles at the scene had been stolen.

Several hours later around 6:40 p.m. a suspicious man and woman were reported in the area of Old Henderson and Duesner Roads. A deputy responded to the area, found the couple and believed they were the suspects connected to the stolen vehicles earlier in the day, authorities say. The deputy tried to detain them, but the female, who was later identified as 27-year-old Diana Ellmers, held up a gun and began firing at the deputy.

Authorities say the deputy returned fire and the couple again ran away.

Additional deputies, Evansville Police Department officers and Indiana State Police troopers were called to the scene to help.

Ellmers was later found hiding outside a residence in the area around 8:20 p.m. Two deputies and at least one officer fired shots at Ellmers when she pulled out a gun again. Ellmers was shot twice and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and placed in police custody.

About two hours later, Kirk surrendered and told authorities he had been shot. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

No law enforcement officers were injured.

The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office will determine formal charges in the case.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.