Ex-Indiana Worker Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Shotgun Blast in Office

A northwest Indiana judge has sentenced a former Indiana Department of Workforce Development auditor to 15 years in prison for firing a shotgun into an agency office.

Porter Circuit Judge Mary Harper sentenced Edgar Tillery, 61, on Feb. 14 following his guilty plea in December to an attempted aggravated battery charge.

Tillery disputed a prosecutor’s claim that he only stopped shooting because the gun jammed.

“His intention was to kill that day,” said Deputy Porter County Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek.

Tillery apologized to his former co-workers for the shooting last March in Portage but said he fired his 12-gauge shotgun through a glass door only once.

“There was no one in harm’s way,” Tillery said.

None of the 16 people who were present at the shooting were injured, but office director Jennifer Chappell said some of the employees have needed counseling and some have transferred to other offices.

“He went there that day intending to kill me and the only thing he probably regrets is his failure,” she said.

Tillery retrieved the shotgun from his car after receiving an unfavorable job review.

Polarek said Tillery is an obsessively angry man who deserved the maximum 20-year sentence. He originally faced up to 50 years in prison on a charge of attempted murder.

Defense attorney Matt Soliday said Tillery never pointed the gun at anyone.

“He pretty much snapped,” Soliday said.

Monday’s testimony indicated Tillery’s anger may have been exacerbated because he didn’t take medicines for managing his diabetes.

The shooting occurred days before Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a law prohibiting employers from banning guns in locked cars on company property.