Sheriff's office: Man staves off would-be killer in attempted murder case

EVANSVILLE — Vanderburgh County sheriff's deputies and Evansville police took a man into custody Tuesday evening after he allegedly attempted to shoot, stab and run over another man at a camp near the Angel Mounds boat ramp.

The sheriff's office publicly identified the alleged attacker as 64-year-old Derek Anthony Smith. As of Tuesday evening, Smith was receiving treatment at a local hospital and would be "booked into the jail at a later time."

Smith faces preliminary charges of attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon and criminal recklessness with a firearm, a news release states.

Just after 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, Evansville-Vanderburgh Central Dispatch received a call from a man who said he had been shot at by Smith, whom he had never met, while he was parked in the driveway of a friend's "river camp" on Lynn Road, according to the sheriff's office. The man reportedly said he fought Smith off by striking him with his hands.

"The victim had what appeared to be a grazing injury along the length of his forearm," VCSO Lt. Doug Daza wrote in a news release. "The victim exited his vehicle and charged the suspect. He was able to push the gun down and strike the suspect several times in the head in an attempt to stop the attack. He was then able to wrestle the gun away from the suspect who produced a knife and began repeatedly trying to stab the victim."

Still in fear for his life, the man reportedly told detectives that he struck Smith several times and was able to back away from Smith's vehicle. That's when Smith allegedly put his vehicle in reverse and attempted to run the victim over.

"The suspect then fled the scene; however, the victim was able to get back into his vehicle and follow the suspect which eventually led to his arrest," Daza wrote.

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According to the sheriff's office, the victim guided responding deputies and Evansville Police Department officers to Smith's location. An EPD officer conducted a traffic stop and took Smith into custody without incident. Investigators allegedly recovered a handgun from the floor of Smith's vehicle.

While undergoing treatment at a local hospital, Smith allegedly told a detective that he had shot the victim and had attempted to run them over, adding that he had never met the victim prior to the incident. The VCSO news release did not outline whether Smith had articulated a motive for the alleged assault.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Smith was not listed in Vanderburgh County jail booking records. A search of Vanderburgh County court cases Wednesday morning did not turn up an active criminal case listing Smith as a defendant.

Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Sheriff's office: Man staves off would-be killer in attempted murder case