Former Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton arrested for criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon

Former Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton Jr. was arrested early Christmas morning for allegedly firing an assault rifle in Greenwood, Indiana.

According to reports, police responded to the 1400 block of Round Lake Road reference gunshots being fired.  Upon arrival, witnesses told police the shooter fled the scene in a Jeep.  Police found a Jeep a few blocks away driven by Tipton; he was questioned along with his brother, Cortez Tipton. A search of the vehicle led police to find a loaded 9mm handgun and a loaded Colt AR-15 assault rifle in the Jeep.  Despite Tipton having a valid license to carry a handgun (from Michigan), he was ultimately arrested and charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon.

As part of this investigation, Tipton spoke to Greenwood Police and told them he received threatening text messages from his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend that led him to believe that his girlfriend was going to be harmed. Tipton said he and his brother drove from a party to his girlfriend’s house.  Tipton told police he believed the ex-boyfriend was at his girlfriend’s house. According to police, Tipton then stood in the driveway and fired a round from the AR-15.

The state of Indiana will be proceeding under Indiana Code – Section 35-42-2-2, which states:

A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally performs:

(1) an act that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person; or

2) hazing;commits criminal recklessness.

…Except as provided in subsection (c), criminal recklessness a Class D felony if it is committed while armed with a deadly weapon.

As a Class D Felony, there is a potential prison sentence between 6 months to 3 years.  There is also a potential fine of up to $10,000.  The closest criminal charge in Florida to this would be Florida Statute 790.15 – discharging a firearm in public or on residential property.  The Florida Statute states that any person who knowingly discharges a firearm in any public place…or who recklessly or negligently discharges a firearm outdoors on any property used primarily as the site of a dwelling…commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.  If this crime had happened in Florida, Tipton would face a maximum of one year in jail and a fine up to $1,000.

Without the statements from Tipton and the passenger, it looks as if there was a very good chance that police would not have made an arrest in this case.  While police may have found a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle leaving the scene of the shooting and also found firearms (legally owned), without the statements police would not have been able to determine who fired the weapon.  As such, they likely would have not made an arrest of Tipton here.  Moral of the story here is to always request an attorney when being questioned by police in order to protect yourself.

If you have any questions about a criminal charge involving a weapon or firearm, please feel free to contact Miami Criminal Defense Attorney Adam K. Goodman, managing partner of the Law Office of Adam K. Goodman, PLLC, at 305-482-3265.  For more information, please see us online at ‪‪www.adamgoodmanlaw.com.

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