Published: August 29, 2008 12:32 pm         

Standoff rocks quiet neighborhood

Shooting rocks quiet neighborhood

Neighbors look on as police officers work.

With Sunset Drive blocked off from Jefferson to Smead streets, neighbors and other curious onlookers stood wondering what was going on.

While most were informed a shooting had occurred in a house on Sunset Drive, no one seemed to know much more.

Rumors traveled down the street as neighbors stood on sidewalks to watch the Logansport Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Department and Logansport Special Weapons and Tactics team surround the home of Terry LoCoco.

Adam Rogers, who lives on the corner house across from LoCoco’s residence, said he didn’t hear the initial shot, but heard noise from the commotion of police preparing for a stand-off.

“I looked out the window and saw SWAT members and heard police sirens,” said Rogers. “Detective Bean knocked on my door and told us to go down the street.”

He said he was asked to go as far away from the block as possible.

Two hours after police had arrived, Rogers, like many others, said he wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. He had heard a warrant was being issued and a shot had been fired.

Rogers said he had heard LoCoco had been involved in something illegal.

“Knowing that’s right across the street from my house — that’s a little scary,” he said.

He added that police did a good job handling the situation.

“From what I’ve seen, the police officers did a really good job,” he said. “Within minutes, the streets were blocked off, and they had people out of homes.”

Deb Horner, who has lived in the neighborhood for two years, said she didn’t realize anything was going on until police had been on the scene for nearly 45 minutes.

When she looked out the front door, she was surprised to see all the police cars with lights flashing. Once she stepped outside, an emergency medical technician told her to go back inside the house.

“It’s kind of scary,” Horner said. “I thought my neighborhood was safe. ... You’d think it would be pretty secure with two cops living in the neighborhood.”

Austin Brown lives on Usher Street just around the corner from 906 Sunset Drive. He watched the encounter unfold.

In an otherwise quiet neighborhood, Brown said it was certainly unusual to see members of the police emergency response team stalk the neatly trimmed yards, taking cover behind trees and parked vehicles in full gear with bullet-proof vests and guns drawn.

“This is a quiet neighborhood made up mostly of working folks like myself,” said Brown, a mail carrier.

Bill Rhoades and his wife, Lori, had been picking up their daughter from the high school. On their way home, the family witnessed officers run from LoCoco’s home and duck down behind cars to take cover. After being instructed to leave the area, Lori snapped photos with her digital camera.

News editor Kevin Lilly contributed to this report.



High school locked down

Logansport High School was placed on lock down during the incident.

About 60 students who were at the school for tennis and volleyball practice were required to stay inside the Berry Bowl until 4:40 p.m.

The Logansport boys soccer match was also canceled as a result of the incident.

Logansport High School Principal Jack Gardner and Athletic Director Greg Fisher were called in to help in assessing the situation at the high school. Both declined comment.