INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA: An Indiana man was apprehended for allegedly attacking his friend and coworker with a hammer, leaving him with severe head injuries, while working at a sheet metal company, authorities said. Austin Hahn, 27, was taken into custody after being turned in by his mother last week.
According to the records, Hahn is charged with one count each of attempted murder, aggravated battery, and battery by means of a deadly weapon. As per the reports of Fox affiliate WXIN, on August 20, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a call at around 7.30 am about a possible battery at the Bright Sheet Metal Company on West 71st Street.
What injuries did the victim suffer?
After arriving at the scene, the outlet reported that first responders found a man with injuries to his head and face. He was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where doctors treated him for injuries, including multiple skull fractures, brain bleeds, a punctured jaw, and missing teeth. The report states the victim was admitted in serious but stable condition.
The victim could not identify his attacker
The victim, whose name has not been disclosed, told the investigators during an interview that he was at his workstation when he was suddenly struck in the back of the head and went unconscious. Although he could not identify his assailant, he told the authorities that his other colleagues inevitably would have seen the assailant.
What did the other employees tell the investigators?
On that day, the other employees who were on duty informed the detectives that the victim was working at the station, which he shared with Hahn. But the suspect suddenly came up behind him and started hitting him with a hammer. According to the witnesses, the assailant used a tinner hammer in the attack.
The victim and the attacker were apparently friends
Many of Hahn's colleagues claimed that he and the victim were “the best of friends” until an argument several weeks before the attack. One employee told police that after the altercation, Hahn had apologized to the victim and everything seemed normal before he allegedly decided to attack the victim.
Hahn walked out calmly following the attack
Hahn reportedly used the sharp end of the tinner hammer and struck the victim about six or seven times in the head. He then calmly walked out of the storehouse after throwing the hammer in the trash.
WXIN reported that one employee who was out back and had no knowledge of the attack said that Hahn tossed the hammer into the trash and walked past him, pausing momentarily to pat him on the chest and say, “S— happens". He then continued walking to his car and drove away.
The suspect reportedly drove to his mother’s house who phoned the Anderson Police Department and told them her son was at the home, and police arrested him there. He is being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on October 19.
