GREENTOWN, INDIANA: In a disturbing turn of events on a Tuesday night, July 18, the quiet town of Greentown, located an hour north of Indianapolis, was rocked by a terrifying attack that left residents reeling. The alleged incident involved a 20-year-old man, Justin A Crow Jr, who stands accused of pepper-spraying and cutting a bicyclist in the neck with a box knife before fleeing the scene. Authorities have charged Crow with attempted murder in the brutal assault that hospitalized the victim, Ryan Cummins, 48. The news sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many questioning the safety of their once peaceful neighborhood.
'I got stabbed!'
According to the news release from the Howard County Sheriff's Office, the incident unfolded around 9.34 pm. The Howard County 911 Dispatch Center received a distress call reporting a male subject with a stab wound in the alley behind the 200 block of South Hunt Street. The caller described the suspect as a white male wearing a red and black hoodie, last seen running west from the scene. Local resident Seth Graber was one of the first to respond to the victim's cries for help. "He told me, 'I got stabbed! I got stabbed! I got stabbed! He has a red hoodie on, he ran that way,'" Graber told Fox59, recounting the harrowing moment he discovered Cummins lying injured in his yard.
As paramedics rushed to the scene, Cummins courageously recounted the shocking details of the altercation to authorities. He explained that while riding his bicycle, he was suddenly confronted by a stranger. The two engaged in a struggle, and Cummins managed to land a blow in self-defense. However, the altercation took a sinister turn when the assailant responded with a vicious stab to Cummins' neck. As the victim lay helpless on the ground, the attacker demanded his name. Upon learning his identity as "Ryan," the assailant callously stated, "Wrong guy," and vanished into the night.
Cummins was swiftly airlifted to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention, and law enforcement initiated a search for the assailant. The description of the suspect was disseminated to hospitals in the area, leading to a crucial tip from a Community Howard Regional Health police officer. At 10.25 pm, the officer reported a person matching the suspect's description arriving at the hospital's emergency department, Law&Crime reported.
Who is Justin A Crow?
The suspect, Justin A Crow Jr, hails from Jonesboro, Tennessee, had only recently come to the area to stay with his grandparents. Throughout the investigation, Crow's account of the incident underwent multiple changes. Eventually, he confessed to attacking Cummins, claiming he had been "triggered" by an insult. Disturbingly, he admitted to cutting Cummins in the neck with a box knife, stating he was "just done with people." Howard County Sheriff's Captain Jared Buckley expressed shock and dismay at the unprovoked nature of the attack. "You just never know when evil may strike," he solemnly remarked, highlighting the unpredictability of such heinous acts.
Justin A Crow Jr was promptly taken into custody and booked without bond into the Howard County Jail, charged with attempted murder. The investigation into the motive behind the attack and any possible prior interactions between the suspect and victim is ongoing. As the news spread through the small town, residents were left in disbelief and fear. Greentown had always been known for its tranquility, and the violent nature of the incident has rocked the community. Thoughts and prayers poured in for Ryan Cummins, as the community rallied together to support him and his family during this challenging time.
Howard County Sheriff's Office urged anyone with additional information related to the incident to come forward. Detective Shirey can be reached at 765-614-3449, or tips can be submitted online at www.sheriff.howardcountyin.gov.
