In the quiet town of Dillsboro, Indiana, a peaceful Thursday morning was shattered by the sound of gunshots echoing through the early dawn. On August 14, 2025, a chilling sequence of events unfolded near U.S. 50, close to Campo Verde Drive and Gilday Drive, leaving one man dead and a suspect in custody, charged with murder. The incident has rocked the tight-knit Dearborn County community, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and a collective call for justice.
The chaos began at approximately 5:41 a.m., when the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office received a distressing call reporting gunfire in the rural outskirts of Dillsboro. A second caller provided a critical detail: a blue SUV, carrying two occupants, was seen speeding east on U.S. 50, one of them slumped in the passenger seat, a grim hint of the violence that had just occurred. Deputies raced to the scene, their sirens cutting through the stillness of the morning, determined to uncover the truth.
By 5:55 a.m., a sheriff’s deputy spotted a vehicle with Kentucky plates idling suspiciously on Hueseman Road. The driver, later identified as 33-year-old Brent David Wellman of Seymour, Indiana, made a fleeting attempt to engage with the officer before flooring the accelerator, sparking a high-stakes chase. The pursuit was brief but intense, ending when Wellman’s vehicle careened off the road and crashed into an embankment on Hueseman Road. Undeterred, he fled on foot, vanishing into the dense woods near Texas Gas Road, leaving law enforcement to mobilize one of the most extensive manhunts in recent memory.
What followed was a five-hour operation that gripped the Dillsboro community in a state of uneasy anticipation. A coalition of agencies—including the Indiana State Police, Lawrenceburg Police, Aurora Police, Dillsboro Police, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and Aurora EMS—converged on the area. Helicopters buzzed overhead, drones scoured the terrain, and K9 units combed the woods, their handlers resolute in their mission to apprehend the suspect. Residents were urged to lock their doors and stay vigilant as the search unfolded, a stark reminder of the danger lurking in their midst.
At around 11:12 a.m., the tense standoff came to an end. Brent David Wellman was taken into custody, his capture bringing a collective sigh of relief to a community on edge. But the relief was tempered by the grim discovery made earlier that morning: the body of a man, riddled with multiple gunshot wounds, lying lifeless in a wooded area near the intersection of Texas Gas Road and Hueseman Road. The victim, whose identity remains withheld pending notification of next of kin, was transported to the Hamilton County Morgue for an autopsy, as investigators worked to piece together the circumstances of his death.
Wellman, now behind bars at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center, faces charges of murder and resisting arrest. The Dearborn County Prosecutor’s Office has indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation deepens. Authorities have remained tight-lipped about the motive behind the shooting, but the brutality of the act—evidenced by the multiple gunshot wounds—suggests a crime of chilling intent.
“This is a tragic incident that has impacted our community,” a spokesperson for the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the family of the victim, and we are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to ensure justice is served.” The words, though measured, carry the weight of a community grappling with loss and searching for answers.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement has called on the public to come forward with any information that might shed light on the events leading up to the shooting. The Dillsboro community, known for its quiet charm and close-knit bonds, now finds itself united in grief and resolve. Police have reiterated their commitment to public safety, urging residents to report suspicious activity and remain vigilant in the wake of this tragedy.
The events of August 14, 2025, have left an indelible mark on Dillsboro, a stark reminder of how quickly peace can give way to violence. As Brent David Wellman awaits the full weight of the law, the community mourns the loss of a life cut short and rallies around the victim’s family, determined to seek justice and heal together.
