Patrolman Willard S. Van Horn

Willard S. Van Horn

Patrolman Willard Van Horn was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect in a home at 1043 N 14th Street.

The suspect and another man had robbed a service station in Muncie and had abducted the attendant. Muncie detectives learned that the suspects may have gone to Elwood and went to the city to investigate.

One of the Muncie detectives accompanied Patrolman Van Horn and another patrolman to a home where they believed one of the suspects was hiding. The Muncie detective went to the front door and the two Elwood patrolmen went to the back door. As the patrolmen entered the house the suspect immediately opened fire on them, striking Patrolman Van Horn. Although mortally wounded, Patrolman Van Horn was able to return fire and shot the suspect. The man died of his wounds the following day. The second suspect was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison for his part in the original robbery.

Patrolman Van Horn was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and had served with the Elwood Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife and three children.