News Release
Lt. Randy Sherer
Administrative Services
Lafayette Police Department
(765) 807-1223 rlsherer@lafayette.in.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Lafayette Police Department Investigate a Reported Stabbing
LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – April 1, 2021 –
On March 23, 2021, at 8:45pm, medical staff at St. Elizabeth Hospital notified the Lafayette Police Department about a male who was brought in for medical treatment due to multiple stab wounds. Officers spoke with the victim Qingyu Lin, who initially identified himself as Zhang Lin, and his associate, Wen Lin, with the assistance of a Mandarin translator from the Battle Ground Police Department. Information provided to the officers by both parties indicated the victim was un-provokingly attacked by an unknown black male wearing dark colored clothing outside of a restaurant in the 2600blk of Maple Point Dr.
The Lafayette Police Department Detective Division and Crime Scene Unit conducted a thorough investigation into the initial reported incident. The described crime scene was searched for evidence, hours of surveillance footage was reviewed, and multiple interviews and re-interviews were conducted. Thus far into the investigation, no physical evidence was located at the reported crime scene, no substantiated evidence was recovered in surveillance footage, and there were several discrepancies in the statements provided by Qingyu Lin and Wen Lin.
On March 31, 2021, at 8:08pm, members of the Lafayette Police Department Detective Division arrested Wen Lin on preliminary charges of False Informing, Assisting a Criminal, and Obstruction of Justice. This incident is still under investigation, but we are no longer looking for an unknown assailant. This was not a random act of violence, and nothing uncovered during the course of the investigation would suggest that members of the Asian community in the Greater Lafayette Area are being randomly targeted. Anyone with any information about this investigation is asked to call the Lafayette Police Department at 765-807-1200, or through the anonymous WeTIP hotline at 800-78-CRIME.
The fact a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.