Name of victim released in Vanderburgh Co. shooting

VANDERBURGH CO., Ind. (WFIE) - Authorities have released more information about Wednesday’s deadly shooting in Vanderburgh County.

It happened on the 5900 block of Maggie Valley Drive.

[VCSO: Suspect in custody after deadly shooting on Maggie Valley Dr.]

Deputies say 34-year-old Ricky Allen Kiper Jr. knocked on the door, asked for the victim, then shot him.

He was arrested about a mile from the scene on Mill Road.

The coroner has released the victim’s name. It’s 41-year-old James C. McClernon of Evansville. The coroner says he died of multiple shot wounds to the torso.

The affidavit shows Kiper admitted to shooting McClernon twice.

Authorities say Kiper gave the location of the clothes he took off while leaving the scene and described the gun he used.

They say Kiper told them he killed McClernon because he was a sex offender.

Authorities say Kiper was not remorseful. They say he told them his actions were justified.

Deputies say they got a search warrant for a vehicle, and a gun was found that matched the description of the one used in the shooting.

Kiper faced a judge on Thursday. He’s being held at the Vanderburgh County Jail on no bond.

A lieutenant with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office says there’s a chance the prosecutor will go after enhanced charges based on Kiper’s criminal record, as well as the use of a firearm in the crime.

Neighbors say the area is normally quiet and safe.

The neighbor next door to the shooting, Thomas Turner, says he was out at the store when the shots rang out.

He returned home to what he described as a “warzone” awaiting him.

“There was cops everywhere, ambulance, firetrucks, everybody, and I didn’t know what was happening,” says Turner, “I thought they were at my house, I mean it scared me, you know?”

When Turner found out Kiper was caught on Mill Road, he says it was a relief to everyone.

“That’s a scary situation, I mean I live here, you know? I don’t need that kind of thing going on,” says Turner.

14 News spoke with McClernon’s family, who says they want to clarify while McClernon was on the sex offender registry, it was for an incident that occurred over two decades ago in Canada.

They say he got into an altercation with an adult woman, served his time, and wasn’t placed on the registry in Canada.

The family says McClernon didn’t understand why he was placed on the registry when he moved to the United States, and was active in the process of trying to get taken off of the registry when he was killed.

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