Marion – Detectives from the Indiana State Police Peru Post, at the request of the Marion Police Department, are investigating a police action shooting in which a robbery suspect was shot and killed.

The preliminary investigation revealed that on Saturday night, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Robert Lee Thompson, 61, Marion, IN, entered the Dollar General Store at 1101 S. Baldwin Ave in Marion. Thompson, who was allegedly armed with a sawed-off shotgun, immediately went to a back office and demanded money from a store employee who was counting the day’s receipts.  A second employee heard what was occurring and placed a 911 call reporting the alleged robbery. Officers from the Marion Police Department responded to the call and set up a perimeter around the store.

Four officers entered the front of the store and searched for Thompson. When he was located Thompson allegedly pointed the shotgun at one of the responding officers. That officer immediately took cover to avoid being shot. No shots were fired at that time. Thompson then exited out a back door and was confronted by two Marion police officers. The officers purportedly gave repeated commands for Thompson to drop the shotgun which he ignored. When Thompson allegedly pointed the shotgun at the two police officers, they purportedly shot Thompson in defense of their lives. Thompson was struck multiple times. The investigation showed that at least one round was fired from the shotgun.

Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene by Grant County Coroner Steven Dorsey. No police officers or store employees were injured in this incident.

There were two employees in the store at the time of the robbery. Thompson allegedly damaged the video footage that was taken by security cameras inside the Dollar General Store.

The Marion police officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. This is standard operating procedure for the Marion Police Department as it relates to an on duty shooting incident.

When detectives from the Indiana State Police complete their investigation all information will be forwarded to the Grant County Prosecutors Office.

Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.