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Indiana man dies after being shot by Jeffersonville police

Increased traffic enforcement efforts – centered around the Labor Day holiday – are made possible by federal dollars through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Increased traffic enforcement efforts – centered around the Labor Day holiday – are made possible by federal dollars through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 A man who was shot by southern Indiana police after he fired a handgun and pointed it at officers has died from his gunshot wounds days after the shooting, authorities said.

Robert William Atkins, 44, of Jeffersonville died Sunday afternoon at a Louisville hospital from gunshot wounds, the Jefferson County (Kentucky) Coroner’s Office said.

Indiana State Police said Atkins was shot Thursday evening by Jeffersonville officers responding to a 911 call about a man who was walking around an apartment complex's parking area while armed with a handgun.

Police said at least one officer fired their weapon, striking Atkins, after he reportedly shot a handgun in the air and then pointed it toward the officers.

The shooting remains under investigation by Indiana State Police.

Jeffersonville is located along the Ohio River just north of Louisville, Kentucky.

Patrick Beane spent three decades as a journalist at The Herald-Times in Bloomington before joining the staff at WFIU/WTIU News. He began his career at the newspaper after graduating from Indiana University in 1987 and was the sports editor from 2010-2020. His duties at the paper included writing, copy editing, page design and managing the sports department.