WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two Purdue University students were arrested in connection with an incident in which a handgun was fired into the air at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 19).

Brothers Evan and Alex A. Freese were arrested after an investigation by Purdue and West Lafayette police. Evan Freese, 20, of 241, Apt. 10, Sheetz Street, West Lafayette, faces a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. Alex Freese, 18, also of 241, Apt. 10, Sheetz St., faces a preliminary charge of providing false information.

Officers from the two departments responded to calls about fireworks or shots possibly being fired either in the area of South University and Harrison streets or near Marstellar and Harrison streets. Police were initially unable to locate the source of the sounds, but later received an anonymous e-mail that indicated shots were fired and provided a location.

Purdue Police Chief John Cox said Evan Freese told police he fired several shots from a 9mm handgun into the air from his apartment balcony. Cox said officers recovered firearms and ammunition from the apartment, as well as shell casings on the ground outside the apartment.

“Firing a weapon like this is extremely dangerous,” Cox said. “We were very fortunate that no one was injured.”

Criminal Recklessness is a Class C felony punishable by up to eight years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. False informing as a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $5,000.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two area grade schools were put on lockdown today (May 7) after receiving a complaint of a possible threat to the school.

On Thursday, May 7, 2009 at around 8:50a, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Hershey Elementary School after a student’s mother informed them that the student’s non-custodial father was going to try to remove the children from the school and that he might possibly be armed with a handgun.

Melissa Paxton, 33, of Lafayette was arrested and charged with False Informing.

As a precaution both Hershey Elementary School and the adjacent East Tipp Middle School were placed on lockdown while the investigation was pending. After approximately three (3) hours, the father, Richard Wireman (42) of Lafayette, was located in Plymouth, Indiana. He was arrested on an unrelated civil attachment (79D03-0207-JP-135) and is currently being held on a $1000.00 bond in the Marshall County Jail.

When detectives determined that Wireman had not been in the Lafayette area, the custodial mother, Melissa Paxton (33) of Lafayette, was arrested for False Informing as a Class a Misdemeanor and is she is currently being held in the Tippecanoe County Jail on a $250.00 cash bond.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Sergeant James D. Caldwell and Detective Thomas Lehman.