Two circuit court judges were shot and injured in a 2019 altercation at an Indiana White Castle restaurant, according to a shocking video that has been made public.
After the shooter’s conviction last week, the video of the May 1, 2019, shooting at the spot in downtown Indianapolis was finally made public.
Judges Brad Jacobs and Andrew Adams of the Clark County Circuit Court may be seen in the video arriving at the fast food restaurant’s parking lot at about 3:30 am on the relevant day. It was a judicial conference that the two judges were attending.
According to testimony in the gunman’s trial, Adams and Jacobs had been “drinking hard” all evening long at several pubs and were enjoying a nightcap at White Castle.
The two judges witnessed two males drive by in an SUV along with Crawford County Judge Sabrina Bell, who was in attendance at the same legal conference.
According to WRTV, one of the males said something that prompted Bell to “stretch her middle finger” at them. Bell admitted to the authorities that she might have said something to “egg on” the males.
One of the two males, 44-year-old Brandon Kaiser, was seated next to his nephew Alfredo Vazquez. The three judges were approached after they had parked their SUV, at which point a verbal argument started that eventually turned physical.
The four males can be seen fighting and throwing punches in the footage. At one point, Bell seemed to make an effort to grab the workers inside White Castle’s attention.
The fight continues later in the video when someone pulls up in a silver pickup, takes a brief look around, and then speeds off. A man appeared to leave the store with his White Castle order while attempting to break up the altercation.
Kaiser ultimately produces a handgun and shoots Adams and Jacobs.
Despite being treated in a hospital, the two judges managed to escape the incident unharmed. Before the police could come, restaurant staff emerged and surrounded the victims as Kaiser and Vazquez sped off in their vehicles.
For his involvement in the shooting, Kaiser was found guilty of aggravated battery and other offences.
He may serve up to 32 years in jail if convicted of the most serious charges, two counts of aggravated violence.
In self-defense, Kaiser claimed, he shot Adams and Jacobs. The sentence will be given on October 21.
In November 2019, Vazquez, Kaiser’s nephew, admitted guilt to violence. He was given a six-month home detention term and was ordered to serve a year of probation by the end of December 2020.
According to the video, Kaiser and his nephew Alfredo Vazquez parked the SUV and approached the judges. The four are seen fighting and exchanging blows. Kaiser pulled out a revolver and shot Adams and Jacobs to put an end to the altercation. Both had wounds that healed.
