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State Trooper killed in Camden Assailant dies while being arrested Indiana State Trooper Todd Burman, 28, of Delphi was fatally shot in the chest with a rifle by a Camden man on Thursday evening, July 29th. The assailant, Jack Lenon, 66, of 756 James Street, Camden, died of an apparent heart attack following a scuffle with police as they tried to arrest him. Trooper Burman was one of several area police offi cers who responded to a 10:34 p.m. call for assistance by Camden Town Marshal Steve Jones. Jones was at the intersection of James and Water Streets, one block west of Lenon’s home, when Lenon approached. According to police reports, Lenon expressed anger with the town mar shal for enforcing stop signs at the intersection. Jones is a part-time marshal for Camden and also serves as assistant to the Street Water Superintendent. Lenon attended a meeting on May 19th of this year and informed the town council that he would no longer main tain the right of way along his properties, which included a lot next to his home at the intersection of James and Water. Lenon told the council that he expected the Street Department to take on this responsibility. During the confrontation on July 29th, Lenon complained that Jones should be cutting the grass at the intersection. The discus sion escalated into an argument in which, according to investigators, Lenon became “loud, abusive and vulgar”. Jones informed Lenon that he was being placed under arrest for disorderly conduct. Lenon, who was unarmed at the time, refused to comply and returned to his home. When officers arrived at the scene, the were briefed on the situation by Jones. They approached the house and attempted to persuade Lenon, who appeared on the front porch, to surrender peacefully. Lenon refused and returned inside. Officers then removed wire fencing that surrounded his front yard and proceeded to the door, where they were met by Lenon's wife, Donna Belle. Trooper Burman, who was first at the door, informed her that her husband was under arrest and entered the resi dence. As Burman started into an interior hallway, Lenon appeared and shot him with a. 30-30 caliber rifle at close range. Burman was wearing a protective vest, but the slug shattered the vest and entered the heart. He was pro nounced dead on arrival at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Lafayette. Lennon was attempting to reload the high power rifle when Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Back dis armed him. Flora patrolman Clyde Knight placed hand cuffs on Lenon. As Back was reading Lenon his rights, the suspect went limp and became unconscious. Back removed the handcuffs and began administering Cardipul monary resuscitation. Lenon was pronounced dead at the scene by Carroll County Deputy Coroner Jerry Reinke. An autopsy was performed Friday morning, but results were inconclusive. A spokesperson at the Lafayette post of the Indiana State Police said it would be about 10 days before additional laboratory tests would be completed. Lenon was one of several residents who expressed dis satisfaction with the four-way stop that was created by a 1991 town ordinance. Lenon attended a Camden Town Council meeting in late 1991 and used explicit language in expressing his opinion. Upon leaving the meeting, Lenon informed the council that if I have to come back, next time I'll bring a gun”. Earlier this year, Lenon appeared before the Camden Town Council in reference to a Nuisance Ordinance that was being adopted. Lenon questioned the need for such an ordinance. Lenon suggested that Camden was a live and let live community and considered the ordinance very restrictive to property owners. During his exchange with council members, Lenon spouted vulgar language that he had been known to use frequently. Intersection of James Water Streets Jones, 20, was hired as part-time Camden Town Marshal in June of this year. He has yet to complete a three week training course at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, and is serving in a probationary Status. Burman joined the State Police in December 1990 and was assigned to the Lafayette District. He worked primar ily in Carroll County and resided in Delphi. He is the son of Newton County Deputy Sheriff Gerald Burman. Todd Burman Lenon's residence in Camden
Newspaper Details
Delphi Sun Journal
Delphi, Indiana, US
Wed, Aug 04, 1993
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Lara D.
USA 22 Jun 2026
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