Police report: Man allegedly shoots wife in her bedroom over claims of ‘disrespect’

An Indiana man who reportedly tried to kill himself after he allegedly shot a woman who tried to end their relationship was arrested for murder.

Steeve Chavannes, 47, ended up in the hospital due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. When he regained consciousness, he found police by his bedside questioning him, and he admitted, “I shot my wife,” as stated in a probable cause affidavit seen by Law&Crime. Police reports indicate that Chavannes asked a friend to take him to Evelie LaCroix’s residence after she had previously forced him to leave. Chavannes allegedly claimed he wanted to collect some of his belongings.

According to police, LaCroix, whose age was not available, had an order of protection against Chavannes.

When they reached LaCroix’s home on June 28, they were greeted by her daughter, who informed them that her mother was at work. According to the affidavit, she promised to inform her mother of Chavannes’s visit.

As Chavannes’ friend drove him away from the home, he told his friend to stop the car and let him out so he could walk back.

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Plainfield police said that the friend, who agreed to be interviewed, told them that he called his own girlfriend to tell her what was happening. She reportedly told him to go back to the apartment because she believed Chavannes “was going to return to the apartment to fight with Ms. LaCroix.” Before he drove back, the friend checked the trunk of his car, where he kept his gun — a fact that Chavannes knew, the friend told police.

When he opened the trunk, his gun was missing. The friend told police that Chavannes must have taken it out while he spoke to LaCroix’s daughter.

According to the affidavit, LaCroix’s daughter told police that she had lied to Chavannes’ friend about her mother being at work; LaCroix had been sleeping before going to work and had asked her daughter to wake her up at a certain time. Not long after Chavannes and his friend came to the home, LaCroix’s daughter said that she heard a “pop and then glass breaking.” She then heard a second pop and her mother screaming.

After a third pop, the screaming stopped.

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When LaCroix’s daughter went to her mother’s bedroom to see what happened, she was not able to open the door. She saw Chavannes and “a bunch of blood,” and neither person in the room was moving. She called police.

When police arrived, LaCroix was dead from gunshot wounds in her bedroom. Police saw blood “throughout the living room and kitchen area,” as well as “broken glass from the patio door.” Chavannes was still conscious at the scene and near the front door. The gun Chavannes had taken from his friend was near LaCroix’s body. Chavannes was taken to a hospital in handcuffs.

LaCroix’s daughter told police that her mother had several violent interactions with Chavannes that led to her kicking him out of her home. In one instance, Chavannes “stabbed her mom with a screwdriver.” Chavannes would then apologize to LaCroix, who would then “let him back in.” An incident in June, when Chavannes was caught hiding near LaCroix’s home, resulted in a protective order against Chavannes, who was forbidden from contacting her or harassing her.

Police interviewed Chavannes in the hospital when he had recovered enough to respond. He was read his Miranda rights and told police that he “remembered everything.” He allegedly told police, “I shot my wife,” and when asked why, he responded “because she was disrespecting me.” He further allegedly told police his intention was “to take her life.”

Chavannes remains hospitalized and was charged with murder, burglary, and domestic battery in violation of a protective order.