Accused shooter appears in court

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The man accused of a Veterans Day shooting on Terre Haute’s North side appeared in court Monday, three days after his arrest.

Clarence Sandifer, 36, is charged with Attempted Murder and Aggravated Battery in connection with the shooting near the intersection of 13 ^th and Maple.

Witnesses told police Sandifer went to the home of his cousin, Rodney Johnson and confronted him about several matters outside the house. They also said he was accompanied by two other men, according to court documents.

Those on the scene told police that Sandifer put Johnson in a headlock, took him to the ground and shot him in the abdomen. Witnesses also told authorities that someone then held Sandifer down while another person on hand called police. Eventually, though, they said Sandifer got away and fled.

When speaking with investigators, Johnson told them that Sandifer had been heavily using methamphetamine and had become paranoid about Johnson, at one point accusing him of robbing Sandifer’s home.

Johnson was taken to a hospital in Indianapolis for treatment. According to charging information in court, Johnson suffered injury to his lung, spleen, liver and spinal column.