Full Notification

Robbery Turns Deadly as Store Owner Killed

Austin-Saturday afternoon shortly after 3:30 pm, someone entered John’s Coin and Jewelry Shop located at 61 West Main Street in Austin and robbed, shot and killed the shop owner, John M Turner, 79, from Austin. John was located by a family member in the shop and 911 was called. The Austin City Police Department and the Scott County EMS responded to what they initially thought was a medical emergency.

When a doctor and the Scott County Coroner’s Office examined John M. Turner at the hospital, they noticed a wound on the victim’s head that was not consistent to the medical issue as first thought and more consistent with foul play. The investigation immediately turned into a death investigation with the Austin City Police Department requesting the assistance of the Indiana State Police. Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technicians and detectives processed the crime scene then immediately began following leads.

On today’s date, an autopsy was performed on John M. Turner at the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville, KY. The autopsy revealed the preliminary cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head of John M. Turner. The official cause of death will not be determined until all of the autopsy results are complete which usually takes up to six weeks.

With this additional information the case is now being investigated as a Robbery/Murder investigation. Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police at 1-800-872-6743 or 812-246-5424. All callers can remain anonymous.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Department, the Scott County Prosecutor’s Office and the Scottsburg City Police Department are also assisting in the investigation.

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Sgt. Jerry D. Goodin

All Subjects are Innocent Until and Unless Proven Guilty in a Court of Law