Area man shot, killed after waving gun

Mercer County Sheriff’s Office news

CELINA – A St. Marys man who brandished a gun while walking shirtless in Celina was shot and killed by a Celina police officer Wednesday afternoon.

The man, who was identified as Robert Hensley, 39, was shot not long after he was seen waving a handgun around while walking in the downtown area of Celina.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reported that Celina Assistant Police Chief Calvin Freeman requested the Sheriff’s Office investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred in Celina.

Mercer County 9-1-1 received a call at 12:38 p.m. Wednesday stating that a man was walking westbound on Market Street wearing a cowboy hat, shorts and sandals, while shirtless, with a gun tucked in his pants.  The caller stated the suspect took the gun out, waved it around, but did not point it at anybody.

The Sheriff’s Office dispatcher relayed the information to Celina Police Department, which sent an officer to investigate. The officer located the suspect and made contact with him in the parking lot of Lake Shore Motor Sales. Shots were fired and Hensley was hit. The officer, identified as Patrolman Andy Regedanz, 33, a 12-year veteran of the police department, immediately called for EMS and the suspect was transported to Mercer Health, where he succumbed to injuries received in the incident. Patrolman Regedanz did not receive any injuries.

“Nothing else will be released, as the integrity of the investigation needs to be preserved,” stated Sheriff Grey, adding, “as soon as the investigation is completed, results will be released.”