LINDEN, Ind. – A nephew of Glenn Rightsell, a tuckpointer from Linden, said his uncle was working on a relative’s broken-down car on U.S. 231, near North Montgomery High School, Friday evening when he was shot and killed by an Indiana State Police trooper.

Police on Saturday say a trooper – who as of Saturday afternoon wasn’t being identified by Indiana State Police – found Rightsell, 57, working on a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe on the side of U.S. 231, near County Road 550 North and just south of North Montgomery High School, at 6:35 p.m. Friday.

An account given by Indiana State Police, via Sgt. Kim Riley, was that Rightsell reached for a gun after being approached by the trooper, who pulled his sidearm and fired.

Rightsell died a few hours later at Franciscan Hospital in Crawfordsville.

Riley said Indiana State Police will continue to investigate the shooting death and will file a report with Montgomery County Prosecutor Joseph Buser, who would decide whether charges are warranted. Riley said the trooper, who is based out of Lafayette, was put on administrative leave.

UPDATE:ISP fatal shooting: No dash cam, body cam video of trooper’s confrontation with Linden man

Matt Clark is Rightsell’s nephew from Lafayette.

Clark said on Saturday that his uncle was attempting to fix his daughter’s SUV, which had stalled on U.S. 231. He said Rightsell was driving a white Dodge Challenger, which was a rental and had plates registered in Colorado.

“As I hear, he called the police to ask them not to tow it until he worked on the car,” Clark said.

Clark said his aunt, Gloria Rightsell, was told by police that there was an incident down the road involving a suspect police were searching for. Clark said the family was waiting for more details from police, as well.

Riley’s statement Saturday did not address whether police were looking for suspects in the area or whether Indiana State Police knew about a phone call about the disabled vehicle.

“Glenn always carried a gun on his belt, so who knows what the officer might have thought,” Clark said. “A lot of bad coincidences and an officer that used a shoot-first, ask-questions-later mentality.”

According to Riley, the trooper involved in the shooting earlier in the day had checked on the Chevy Tahoe, which appeared to be abandoned on the side of the road. The trooper, after checking for occupants, put a sticker on the vehicle to let other police officers know it had been checked. That happened at 3:48 p.m. Friday, Riley said.

Riley said that nearly three hours later, the same trooper passed the Tahoe and saw that a second car, a white 2018 Dodge, had pulled in front of the SUV.

Riley said the trooper “noticed a handgun on the waist of Mr. Rightsell as he pulled around behind the Tahoe.” Riley said the trooper turned on his emergency lights and spotlight to investigate why a second vehicle was there.

“The trooper wasn’t sure whether someone was there stealing something or what,” Riley said.

Riley said the trooper identified himself and “gave verbal commands to Mr. Rightsell.” He didn’t say what those commands were. Riley said the trooper said Rightsell reached for his gun. Riley said the trooper fired his weapon, hitting Rightsell “at least once.” Riley declined to say how many shots the trooper fired. He did not say whether Rightsell fired his weapon.

Riley said the trooper was uninjured.

The shooting happened across the road from Ken Steen’s home, which is one house south of North Montgomery High School.

Steen said he heard what he now believes was a gunshot but at the time thought someone was knocking on his door. When he went outside to see what was up, he saw police aiming their guns at a man who was lying on his stomach, with his hands above his head, between a white car and a black SUV. Steen said the trunk of the car was open and the hood of the SUV, which had been stranded on U.S. 231 for much of the day.

Steen recorded the scene for six minutes, starting at 6:43 p.m., which would have been several minutes after he heard the shot.

Steen said he heard police demand to know where the man’s gun was. He said the man on the ground indicated it was on his right side. A few minutes later, Steen said police told the man to come to them on his knees. The video shows Rightsell doing that, just before officers take him into custody. Steen said officers had the man stand and walk on his own at that point. Steen said he didn’t see where they went or whether an ambulance was on the scene.

“He was completely compliant the whole time,” Steen said. “I didn’t know he’d been shot until (Saturday) morning. … All that time, he was bleeding out on the cold ground.”

Riley said the trooper who fired his weapon retreated to his patrol car and waited for backup. He said the Tahoe had tinted windows, so the trooper wasn’t sure whether someone was inside. Riley said the trooper also waited for other officers from Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department deputies before approaching Rightsell again, in case he was in a position to fire.

Riley said Indiana State Police detectives would get a full statement from the trooper in the next 48 hours.

Clark said he had plenty of doubts about the official police version of what happened Friday evening, calling his Uncle Glenn “the kindest man I have ever known.”

“I have witnessed him having laughs with police officers at the American Legion while armed, as he always is,” Clark said. “If he, in fact, did reach for his weapon, it would have only been to disarm himself. I feel that there must be an independent investigation to ascertain the truths of this situation. The ISP would be smart to not stand in the way of such an investigation.”

Reach Dave Bangert at 765-420-5258 or at dbangert@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @davebangert.