One man dead, second at large after altercation

UPDATED AT 1:32 p.m. WEDNESDAY

Police say a Salem man was killed Tuesday night after he and another man attempted to rob a Salem resident.

Preliminary investigation by Indianan State Police detectives at the Sellersburg Post has determined there was a home invasion and robbery at a private residence at 2785 Old State Road 56 near Salem in Washington County around 9:10 p.m.

“The homeowner was allegedly attacked by two male suspects after he answered the door of his home,” Sgt. Jerry Goodin of the ISP said Wednesday afternoon. “At the time the victim answered the door there was a person unknown to the victim at the door who allegedly asked to use the victim’s phone.

“When the victim consented to help, the first suspect entered the home quickly followed by a second masked suspect the victim had not seen,” Goodin said. “Both suspects were apparently trying to rob the victim homeowner who was able to defend himself by retrieving a firearm and fired multiple shots which struck and killed the first suspect who initially knocked on the victim’s door. “

That man was identified as Ronald L. Chastain, 36, of Beck’s Mill Road, Salem.

An autopsy was performed Wednesday morning on Chastain, by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville, Ky.  Washington County Coroner Rondale Brishaber determined and released the cause of death as gunshot wounds, Goodin said.

Indiana State Police are still searching for a second suspect who is described as a white male, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, wearing what appeared to be a black and white homemade mask on his face.

“This person should be considered dangerous and should not be confronted by citizens,” Goodin said.

Anyone with information about the possible identity of the second suspect should contact 911 immediately, he added.  Anyone else with information about this investigation is asked to call the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg at (812) 246-2509.

FIRST POST AT 10 a.m. WEDNESDAY

A fight Tuesday night in Washington County left one man dead and police are looking for a man they assume may be armed and dangerous.

Officers responded to a 911 call of a fight at 2785 Old State Road 56 near Salem around 9:14 p.m., Sgt. Jerry Goodin of the Indiana State Police said.

“When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered one deceased male in the home, not the homeowner,” Goodin said. “During the investigation officers also discovered that another white male, described as 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, wearing what appeared to be a black and white colored homemade mask on his face, fled the home during the altercation.

“At this time police are looking for this second subject and although it is unknown if he is armed he should be considered dangerous,” Goodin said. “Anyone seeing a person matching the description of this second individual should dial 911 immediately and give the location where he was last seen.”

The homeowner sustained minor injuries during the fight, Goodin said.

The name of the deceased and the cause of death are being withheld because of the ongoing investigation, Goodin said.

Assisting in the investigation are the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and Salem Police Department.