Trooper Aaron N. Smith
Officer: Indiana State Police, Trooper Aaron N. Smith
Date: 6/28/2023 Location: Plainfield, IN FACTORS (1,2,8,11,14)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Eddie Pernell Jones Jr.
Criminal Activity History/Involved: None reported. / Yes, Jones was in possession of and driving a stolen vehicle while fleeing from the police.
Mental Illness: Unknown.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None reported.
Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/18
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 8:30 p.m. on June 28, 2023, Indiana State Trooper Grover Scott observed a stolen vehicle occupied by Eddie P. Jones Jr., DeMareon L. Curry, and a teenage girl, in a McDonald’s parking lot. Trooper Scott ordered the occupants to put their hands outside of the vehicle’s windows.
Actions taken by subject toward police: After the three subjects in the car initially complied, Jones put the vehicle in reverse and backed into Trooper Scott’s patrol vehicle, then struck another vehicle as he fled the scene. Troopers Scott and James Williams pursued Jones while Trooper Aaron Smith set up stop sticks in the highway where they were headed. Upon seeing Trooper Smith on the road, Jones veered his vehicle across two lanes of traffic and ran over Trooper Smith before losing control of the vehicle into a ditch.
Reactions by the police: Troopers removed Jones and Curry from the vehicle and placed them under arrest. All three of the occupants in the vehicle were transported to the hospital.
How murdered? Trooper Smith was intentionally run over while placing stop sticks to stop a fleeing felon.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Since Jones swerved across two lanes to hit Trooper Smith, even if the Trooper had remained in his vehicle there is no guarantee that Jones would not have intentionally crashed into his patrol vehicle.
Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? Trooper Smith would have been justified in using deadly force against Jones as soon as he saw Jones turn the vehicle toward him.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Jones was transported to the hospital, treated for his injuries, and has been “charged with murder, resisting law enforcement and auto theft.”
