DATE: March 16, 2025
SUBJECT: Vanderburgh County Deputies Arrest 22-year-old for Attempted Murder
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-NR-0316
CONTACT: Sheriff Noah Robinson
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Noah Robinson
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 22-year-old Jacob Austin Hille of Evansville on charges of attempted murder after a drive-by shooting this morning on Wyoming Avenue in northwest Vanderburgh County.
At approximately 9:26 AM, deputies responded to a call from a 62-year-old homeowner who reported hearing a car horn followed by a loud gunshot. Upon inspecting her front door, she discovered a bullet hole to the left of the doorframe. The homeowner immediately contacted 911. Her 22-year-old grandson was also in the home at the time, though neither individual was injured.
Deputies on scene determined the bullet had penetrated the door frame, traveled through a wall into the kitchen, and finally lodged in the laundry room wall. After interviewing neighbors, deputies gathered a general description of the suspect vehicle.
Utilizing the FLOCK camera network, deputies were able to trace the vehicle fleeing the scene and obtain a license plate number. This information led to the identification of Hille as a suspect. Deputies then visited Hille’s residence on Woodbine Lane, where they found the vehicle parked, but Hille was not present. The residence and vehicle were secured pending the execution of search warrants.
Further investigation revealed the suspect had left Woodbine Lane in a second vehicle. FLOCK cameras were checked again, and the second vehicle was tracked to the east side of Evansville, eventually being located at the Timbers apartment complex. With the assistance of the Evansville Police Department and a drone, officers observed Hille exiting an apartment and entering a vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident, and the apartment was secured for a subsequent search warrant.
A search of the first vehicle revealed a spent shell casing, over 50 rounds of 7.62 mm rifle ammunition, and a 30-round AK-47 magazine. At Hille’s residence, deputies recovered a gun box and instruction manual for a pistol-style AK-47, along with approximately one pound of suspected marijuana. During the search of the apartment, an additional two pounds of suspected marijuana were seized. No firearms were recovered from the apartment.
Sheriff Noah Robinson stated, “Thanks to the outstanding capabilities of the FLOCK camera network and the diligent work of our detectives, we were able to quickly identify and apprehend the suspect. The collaboration between our office, the Evansville Police Department, and the community was key in ensuring a swift arrest.”
Hille declined to speak with detectives. Investigators learned that Hille and the 22-year-old grandson had been involved in a dispute over a marijuana debt. Additional interviews suggest that the shooting may have been retaliation for a previous incident in which Hille was shot at by an unknown assailant.
Hille has been charged with Attempted Murder as a Level 1 Felony, Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon as a Level 5 Felony, and Possession of Marijuana as a Class A Misdemeanor. He is currently being held without bond pending a court appearance.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office at (812) 421-6297 or www. https://vanderburghsheriff.org.
ARRESTED:
Jacob Austin Hille (pictured above), 22, of Evansville. Attempted Murder as a Level 1 Felony, Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon as a level 5 Felony and Possession of Marijuana as a Class A Misdemeanor.
PREVIOUSLY:
NEWS RELEASE: Sheriff’s Office Seeking Community Partners for New County-Wide Camera System
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.