Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven P. Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, were ambushed at their Lafayette, Indiana, home Jan. 18 by a gunman posing as a concerned pet owner. The attack serves as a chilling reminder of the escalating threats faced by judges nationwide.

Law enforcement reports state the assailant approached the Meyers’ residence under the pretense of searching for a lost dog. When the couple opened the door, the assailant fired multiple shots, striking Judge Meyer in the arm and Kimberly Meyer in the leg. 

Kimberly Meyer received care at a local hospital and has been released. Judge Meyer remains hospitalized but is expected to make a full recovery.

Lafayette police announced late Thursday that five people had been arrested in connection with the case. Those arrested include three Lafayette residents and two residents of Lexington, Kentucky. 

One of those arrested, Thomas Moss, had been a defendant in a case before Judge Meyer, in which he faced charges of shooting into a building, domestic battery, and unlawful possession of a firearm. His trial had been postponed multiple times but was recently rescheduled for late January, court records show.

News of the attack drew swift condemnation from state officials and members of the legal community, who described it as an assault on the rule of law. Additional security measures for judges across the state are reportedly under review as the investigation proceeds.