Rural Rensselaer Man Dies in Police-Action Shooting

Indiana State Police say a rural Rensselaer man shot at troopers and officers from the Jasper County Sheriff’s department last night. Officers returned fire and killed 42-year-old Wilmer Messer, Junior. It all started when police got calls that Messer had shown up intoxicated at a nearby convenience store and then drove his car into a ditch on his way home. A news release from I-S-P says that when police arrived at Messer’s home, they found Messer walking around with a firearm. Police surrounded the home and tried to talk him into putting down his weapon. But police say Messer fired a shot at them, forcing them to return fire.