A 53-year-old Brownstown man was shot and killed Wednesday morning by police investigating a report of a domestic disturbance outside the Brownstown Police Department.

Barry Rucker’s name was released during a news conference conducted by Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, public information officer for the Indiana State Police Versailles Post.

State police are investigating the shooting, reported shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday at the police station on South Poplar Street.

The two officers involved in the incident were not injured, and their names have not been released as police wait to inform their families, Wheeles said.

He said the two officers have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard in police-action situations.

Wheeles said the initial investigation shows Rucker was shot by police responding to a report of a domestic disturbance outside the station at Poplar and Walnut streets.

That argument involved Rucker and an unidentified woman, police said. The two were involved in a relationship.

At some point after the officers arrived, they tried to take Rucker into custody, but he would not comply, Wheeles said.

“Evidence indicates that he resisted their attempts to take him under arrest,” he said.

Wheeles said officers tried to subdue him with a taser, and that was not effective.

Rucker then produced a small handgun, Wheeles said. Police are still investigating how Rucker was holding the gun.

At that time, the officers fired their department-issued handguns at Rucker.

“We’re unsure at this time how many times the individual was struck by those rounds that were fired,” Wheeles said. “All indications are that the officers felt threatened by that gun that was produced, and they used their firearms to defend themselves and possibly this female that was also at the scene.”

The officers and others who responded gave first aid to Rucker, and he was taken to Schneck Medical Center, Wheeles said. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Seymour hospital.

The woman who was at the scene also was being interviewed by police, Wheeles said.

Wheeles told media that the Indiana State Police would take its time to conduct a thorough and fair investigation.

“We’ll use every resource we have available to make sure that the case is thorough and that the case is investigated impartially on both sides so we can get to the facts,” he said.

Wheeles said police will ask local businesses or residents who may have surveillance video from the incident and interview any witnesses.

“That will help us determine the facts surrounding the case,” he said.

According to court records, Rucker had a pending case in Jackson Circuit Court on domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon and intimidation where the defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon. That case was filed Nov. 18.

Rucker appeared for a pretrial conference Tuesday in the case, prosecutors said.

The police station is in the same building that houses the town hall. David Willey, the town’s clerk-treasurer, said he heard people yelling and some time later heard multiple gunshots.

He said he also heard police yell multiple times at the man to drop a gun.

“It was over and over again,” Willey said.

Shortly afterwards, Willey said he heard gunshots.

“I really don’t know how many, but probably four or five,” Willey said. “We were shocked. I didn’t really have time to hide under the desk or anything, but it just happened, and that was it.”

He said the man kept yelling after the gunshots.

Willey said he and a coworker stayed inside following the shooting.

“We just let the police do their work,” he said. “Everyone was here at the scene pretty quick.”

Willey said it is not unusual for him to hear people yelling outside, as that happens from time to time. The town hall and police station are just a block from Main Street and the county courthouse.

“People get upset, and when you’re inside, you hear the noise level go up, but you really can’t tell what’s going on, what it is or even if it’s trouble,” Willey said.

Police put Brownstown schools on lockdown as a precautionary measure, according to a Remind message from Brownstown Central High School Principal Joe Sheffer.

The Jackson County Judicial Center also was under lockdown briefly.