On the evening of November 22, 2023, eighteen-year-old Evan Andrew Neumeister, a senior at New Palestine High School, was shot and killed while with two friends at a residence on South Eclipse Way in New Palestine, Indiana. The group had been in a bedroom when 20-year-old Erick N. Wilkinson was handling a recently acquired 9mm handgun; the weapon discharged around 5:30 p.m. and struck Neumeister in the chest. A 17-year-old friend witnessed the shooting and called 911. Both Wilkinson and the juvenile tried to render aid, with Wilkinson using his shirt to apply pressure, but Neumeister was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital and pronounced dead.

Wilkinson was arrested that same evening and initially held on preliminary charges of criminal recklessness and involuntary manslaughter. The Hancock County Prosecutor’s office later charged him with reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony. Wilkinson said the shooting was unintentional and that his finger must have been on the trigger while he was not paying attention. Neumeister had just turned eighteen the day before his death and had earned firefighter I & II certifications.

Does anyone have information about that night or knew Evan and can share details that might help clarify what happened?