Samson G. Varner, 36, was shot and killed by a Greenwood police officer on Saturday morning.
Varner was in the garage of the home on Heatherwood Drive, and his girlfriend, Emily Glass, 35, was on the ground with multiple stab wounds when the officer arrived, Greenwood Assistant Police Chief Matt Fillenwarth said.
The officer repeatedly ordered Varner to put down the knife and get away from Glass. Varner started to walk away, but then raised the knife above his head and lunged at Glass. The officer believed he was preparing stab Glass again, Fillenwarth said.
The officer fired multiple shots, killing Varner, Fillenwarth said.
Glass had suffered multiple stab wounds and lost a large amount of blood. She had suffered a collapsed lung and her spinal cord was almost severed. She was taken to an Indianapolis hospital and was in critical condition on Saturday, Fillenwarth said.
Fillenwarth was not sure how long the couple had lived in the home, but said police had no previous calls to the home or regarding the couple.
The couple’s 2-year-old child was home at the time and was not injured. She is staying with relatives, Fillenwarth said.
Police are continuing to investigate and will eventually send the report to the prosecutor’s office to determine if the shooting was justified, Fillenwarth said.
The officer, a more than 20-year veteran of the police department, was wearing a body camera, which captured the shooting.
The officer saved the woman’s life, Fillenwarth said.
