Patrolman Robert Pitts was shot and killed at The Garden Quarter apartment complex while investigating an earlier homicide at another location.

   Four officers proceeded to the building in the complex where the suspect was located and as they began to enter, the man opened fire from a second-story window and shots were exchanged. Patrolman Pitts was transported to Terre Haute Regional Hospital where he died from a single gunshot wound to his head two hours later.

   The wounded 21-year-old suspect had barricaded himself inside an apartment for nearly three hours before entry was made where he was found dead in a hallway from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He had been released 11 days earlier on a charge of carrying a handgun without a license and given a one-year suspended sentence with unsupervised probation.

   Patrolman Pitts had previously served with the Sullivan Police Department for six years. He was survived by his daughter, Brooke; sons, Austin and Dakota; mother, Bobbi (Ron) Noel; father, Greg (Sue) Pitts; sister, Kelli (Corey) Jones; brother, Greg (Brandi Wheeler) Pitts II; grandmother, Carolyn McKinley; great-great grandmother, Maurine Gambill; and girlfriend, Casey Steele.

Historical Notes • Patrolman Pitts is the third of five Indiana line of duty deaths in 2018. • He is the 13th line of duty death of the Terre Haute Police Department. • His line of duty death is the 23rd that has originated from Vigo County.