Armed man shot, killed by police in Rochester

Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 4:09 PM

By Wes Dehne

An investigation is underway after Steven T. Harding, 37, of Rochester, was fatally shot by police responding to a domestic disturbance on Monroe Street.

The Indiana State Police, at the request of the Rochester Police Department and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, is investigating a police-involved shooting in which a Rochester man died.

Preliminary investigation by ISP detectives reveals that today, at approximately 10:48 a.m., members of the Rochester Police Department and Fulton County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on Monroe Street for a report of a domestic disturbance involving a firearm.

When officers arrived at the residence, a man identified as Steven T. Harding, 37, of Rochester, was located inside, reportedly armed with a firearm and pointing it in the direction of an officer. An officer and a deputy discharged their duty weapons at least once, striking Harding.

Despite life-saving measures, Harding succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Notification to Harding's family has been made, police said.

There were no officers injured in the incident. The officer and deputy involved in the shooting are to be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. This is standard operating procedure for the Rochester Police Department and Fulton County Sheriff's Office when an officer is involved in a shooting.

The Indiana State Police is the lead agency in this investigation, assisted by the Fulton County Coroner's Office and the Fulton County Prosecutor's Office.

Upon completion of the investigation, the findings are to be provided to the Fulton County Prosecutor's Office for review.

The following photos were captured at the scene by WROI Giant.fm's Shelby Lopez: