Compton killed in fugitive chase

SEELYVILLE, Ind. (WTHI) - A wanted fugitive died late Wednesday after a chase and stand-off.

According to information Indiana State Police, officers found Justin Compton, 26, in the front yard of a home in Seelyville, Ind. around 9 p.m. Wednesday. At that point, Compton fled on foot into a wooded area north of Baker Street. 

Officers chased Compton, set up a perimeter and called for a K-9 officer with the Terre Haute Police Department, according to information released by State Police, who investigated the incident.

When the K-9 officer found Compton, Compton "allegedly made an aggressive action towards the officer with a knife," according to authorities. That's when the officer shot Compton, according to State Police information.

Compton was pronounced dead by the Vigo County Coroner's office just before midnight, according to police. Vigo County Coroner Dr. Roland Kohr performed an autopsy on Compton Thursday morning and ruled that Compton died of gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Police had been searching for Compton since June 11, when he left a Vigo County courtroom, jumped from a second-floor balcony in the building's rotunda, then ran out of the building.

Compton had been in court for an initial hearing on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, doing so after a previous OWI conviction, resisting law enforcement and driving a vehicle after forfeiting his license.

Compton had arrived at court after posting 10 percent of a $1,000 bond in the case. During the hearing, Compton's bond was revoked and he was remanded to the custody of the sheriff, according to court documents. Authorities said that's when Compton fled.

Detectives were told Compton was suffering from a terminal illness and fled because the sentence he received was longer then his life expectancy.

This is not Compton's first run-in with law enforcement. In January, News 10 reported that Compton had been arrested at least 15 times within five years. Compton had prior convictions on charges of theft, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resisting law enforcement and being an habitual traffic offender, according to online court records.

Terre Haute police  would not release information on the status or identity of the K-9 officer Thursday, but they did say that the officer was uninjured.

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