Douglas Walker

dwalker@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE – City police say a Muncie man was fatally shot early Wednesday while he was trying to stage an armed invasion of an eastside apartment.

Scott Allen Gilliam, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting, in the 1500 block of East Washington Street, Delaware County Coroner Scott Hahn said.

An autopsy conducted at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital confirmed Gilliam died as a result of a single gunshot wound in the head.

According to Muncie police Sgt. Mike Engle, Gilliam and another man – who has yet to be identified – were trying to kick in the front door of an apartment when the shooting took place.

Engle said the occupant of the apartment – Cornell Lamont Strong II, 27 – has a video surveillance system, and was able to see two men with firearms – one with a handgun, the other a long gun – were trying to gain entry.

Strong fired two gunshots through his front door in a bid to scare off the intruders, the police sergeant said. One of the bullets struck Gilliam.

Police received a report of shots fired about 3 a.m. near Main and Lincoln streets, and searched the area, but found nothing.

After sunrise, however, an anonymous call brought officers back to the 1500 block of East Washington, where Gilliam was found dead in the yard.

Hahn said he was called to the scene about 8 a.m.

City police questioned witnesses and conducted related searches for much of Wednesday.

Strong was not arrested in connection with the shooting. Deputy Prosecutor Zach Craig said his office would later review all reports stemming from Gilliam’s death and determine what charges, if any, are appropriate.

Strong was arrested, however. Engle said authorities found about a pound of marijuana in Strong’s apartment, and he was preliminarily charged with dealing in marijuana, possession of marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance. He was being held in the Delaware County jail on Wednesday night under a bond of $11,000.

The Muncie man’s criminal record includes convictions for carrying a handgun without a license, false informing and driving while intoxicated.

Gilliam, meanwhile, had been convicted of theft four times.

Engle said detectives were investigating a possible link to the events on East Washington Street and an armed home invasion in the 1800 block of South Penn Street about 2 a.m. Wednesday.

In that case, he said, two men kicked in the front door of a residence, but fled when the home’s occupant greeted them with several gunshots.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. Follow him on Twitter: @DouglasWalkerSP.

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