Ind. man opens fire in IHOP during confrontation with cook over alleged infidelity: docs

WatchInd. man opens fire in IHOP during confrontation with cook over alleged infidelity: docsby WKRC

Police allege Austen Wable fired a gun inside a Muncie IHOP while confronting a cook over alleged infidelity involving his wife. (Google Maps)Comment on this story0CommentShare storySharetopics: IndianaIHOPShootingGunfireConfrontationPursuitStun-gunChargesMUNCIE, Ind. (WKRC) – An Indiana man was arrested after he reportedly opened fire inside an IHOP location during a confrontation with a cook over alleged infidelity.

According to WXIN, Austen Wable was taken into custody after he allegedly opened fire while confronting an IHOP cook over allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with his wife, then later fled law enforcement and crashed into a home in Muncie, Indiana.

Officers responded to the IHOP location on Thursday after receiving a report of a subject with a firearm, per the report. Documents reviewed by WXIN reportedly state that a man, identified by police as Wable, entered the business with a gun and opened fire.

When speaking to dispatch, the 911 caller said the incident had occurred because one of the cooks had allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with the suspect's wife and noted that Wable had fled the scene in an SUV following the incident.

While investigating at the IHOP, authorities said a firearm was discovered, as well as a shell casing in the floor, with the cook involved reportedly refusing to cooperate with the investigation into the incident, per the outlet. A witness speaking to police reportedly stated that Wable was "extremely drunk" and that he began pushing the cook at some point during the confrontation and said, "you (expletive) my (expletive), bro," before pulling the gun on the victim.

The witness said they attempted to de-escalate the situation before the gun went off, after which the confrontation reportedly moved outside, where Wable allegedly continued yelling at the cook and chased him with a knife around the parking lot.

The witness also reportedly told police that they believed "[Wable] had shot himself, as he observed a hole in the back of his pants and that [Wable] stated, 'I'm leaking,'" WXIN reported.

Authorities were eventually able to determine that Wable was driving his wife's SUV, with the vehicle being tracked to Biltmore Avenue using the FLOCK grid. After being located by police, the suspect allegedly drove off at a high rate of speed, eventually reaching 110 mph as he allegedly performed dangerous maneuvers through traffic. At some point during the pursuit, the suspect reportedly went airborne and nearly struck several other vehicles that were driving in the opposite direction, per the outlet.

Wable reportedly crashed into a vehicle on S. County Road 400 E, then "began stumbling to his right" after getting out of the vehicle, according to WXIN. Officers deployed a stun gun after the suspect allegedly failed to comply with commands from law enforcement, and he was placed under arrest.

After the suspect was in custody, authorities reportedly confirmed that he was suffering from a gunshot wound and determined he was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a 2021 conviction of carrying a handgun without a license.

Wable was arrested and hit with the following preliminary charges, according to WXIN:

Wable reportedly refused to answer questions during his arrest and was held without bond until a bond hearing, per the report.