An argument over a borrowed car between a father and son in Anderson, Indiana, ended in a fatal shooting that left one man dead and his son facing murder charges. The victim was Jerry Wade, a 52-year-old White man. The dispute occurred on the evening of Friday, January 13, 2023, and set in motion a tragic series of events.
The incident unfolded around 7:28 p.m. in the 500 block of West Second Street. According to investigators, Jerry and his son, 31-year-old Jansen Wade, were arguing about a car that a friend, Todd Snellenbarger, had loaned to Jerry. Snellenbarger was present and had asked for the car back upon learning Jansen was driving it. During the confrontation, Jansen allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot his father multiple times.
When police arrived, they found Jerry Wade suffering from critical gunshot wounds. Officers administered aid at the scene before he was transported to a hospital in Indianapolis.
Despite medical efforts, Jerry succumbed to his injuries at 12:25 a.m. the following morning, Saturday, January 14, 2023. Police located Jansen Wade nearby, still armed with a handgun, and took him into custody without further incident.
During the investigation, Jansen Wade, who had recently moved to Anderson, told police that his father had hit him and brandished a knife during their argument. However, investigators did not find a knife at the scene. The witness, Todd Snellenbarger, told police that Jerry had not battered his son before the shooting. Snellenbarger also reported that after shooting his father, Jansen pointed the gun at him, ordered him into an apartment, and stole his phone. As Jansen fled on foot, Snellenbarger gave chase, and two shots were reportedly fired in his direction.
Jansen Wade was arrested and booked into the Madison County Jail, where he was held without bond. The Madison County Prosecutor's Office later filed formal charges against him, including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and possession of a narcotic drug, as he was allegedly carrying fentanyl at the time of his arrest. The state also filed a firearms enhancement, which could add significant time to a potential sentence if convicted. The case was proceeding through the court system as of January 2023.
