Delaware County man held in neighbor’s slaying had guns seized in December

MUNCIE, Ind. — In February, a Delaware County decide dominated deputies might maintain firearms that had been seized from Cy Erik Alley.

Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman’s workplace had filed a petition alleging Alley, who lives south of Albany in northeastern Delaware County, was “a harmful individual.”

Relations had earlier advised authorities Alley had been “off his treatment,” resulting in “psychotic episodes” because of schizophrenia.

Court docket paperwork stemming from that petition to grab Alley’s firearms are sealed and never accessible for public evaluation. There isn’t a indication, nevertheless, that Delaware Circuit Court docket 1 Choose Marianne Vorhees ever returned these weapons to Alley.

.Shortly earlier than midday on Tuesday, investigators say Alley was armed with one other firearm — apparently a shotgun — when he confronted his neighbor, Gerald Lee Copley, outdoors the sufferer’s residence alongside Delaware County Highway 500-N.

Earlier:Rural Delaware County man jailed in neighbor’s slaying

Alley would inform deputies he in some way got here to consider Copley was answerable for electrical issues at his residence. He shot the 59-year-old sufferer, who died on the scene, “a number of instances.”

Two hours later, Alley — discovered close to his dad and mom’ residence alongside Delaware County Highway 900-N — surrendered with out incident to members of the sheriff’s emergency response workforce.

By early Tuesday night, he was being held with out bond within the Delaware County jail, preliminarily charged with homicide.

On the time of his arrest, Alley already confronted a misdemeanor depend of battery leading to bodily harm filed in February in Muncie Metropolis Court docket.

That case stemmed from a few of the similar allegations that might result in the Delaware County man’s weapons being seized.

Throughout a confrontation together with his mom — allegedly over points associated to milking the household’s cows — two days earlier than Christmas, Alley reportedly each shoved and cursed at her.

Citing “ongoing points” over Alley’s refusal to take his treatment, his father mentioned he had collected all weapons on their property, together with firearms that belonged to his son.

The daddy mentioned Alley expressed frustration over his incapacity to entry his weapons, saying he wanted them as a result of “a struggle is coming.”

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A trial has not but been scheduled within the Metropolis Court docket case stemming from the alleged December assault on Alley’s mom. The battery cost is a Class A misdemeanor carrying as much as a yr in jail.

On Tuesday, Alley — who noticed his twenty ninth birthday final week — reportedly advised deputies he had supposed to kill Copley when he shot him 4 instances.

A participant within the interview reported the agricultural Albany man had confirmed no indicators of regret.

Douglas Walker is a information reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.