A Bloomington man has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly firing a gun at someone multiple times Aug. 14 near the B-Line Trail, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Charges include carrying a firearm while being considered a serious violent felon under Indiana’s law. Randy Francis, 44, was convicted for felony child molestation in 2009.
According to the court document, Francis drew a pistol from a backpack and fired two shots at Anthony Purtlebaugh that missed, as Purtlebaugh was walking at about 12:45 a.m. south of the trail offshoot near South Camden Drive.
Purtlebaugh was walking with his green laser “starpointer” for light and turned it off when he saw two people, Francis and Korey Taylor, sitting on a bench along the trail.
Francis aggressively asked Purtlebaugh to see the laser. Purtlebaugh told police he said “what?” in response, which led Francis to stand and draw a pistol.
Purtlebaugh continued to walk down the path; as he looked back, he said he saw Francis fire the gun east, according to the court document. Then, Purtlebaugh heard a second gunshot and a whizzing sound near his head.
Purtlebaugh’s wife was at the County Club Drive entrance of the trail. She heard the two shots and saw Purtlebaugh running toward her, telling her to call the police.
Police located Francis and Taylor on the trail and found two firearms in the backpack, one of them a .380 caliber pistol. According to the court document, a spent .380 caliber shell casing was found off the pathway.
During an interview, Taylor told police the guns were his and he gave Francis the .380 caliber pistol to carry that night.
Francis’ bail review hearing was set for 9 a.m. Wednesday. However, the Monroe County Justice Center closed Tuesday after a complaint about mold to the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The Justice Center is set to reopen Thursday and court hearings will be rescheduled.
