Mom shoots man when she walks in on him trying to rape her 12-year-old daughter, court docs say

INDIANAPOLIS (Gray News) – A mother shot a convicted child molester when she allegedly walked in on him attempting to rape her 12-year-old daughter in a hotel room, according to multiple local reports.

The shooting happened in Indianapolis on Saturday at the Baymont Inn on Eagle View Drive.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to WXIN that Bruce Pierce, 39, was critically injured in the shooting.

Bruce Pierce, 39, is listed on the Marion County Sheriff’s Office sex offender registry.... — Bruce Pierce, 39, is listed on the Marion County Sheriff’s Office sex offender registry. Online records show he was ed in 2019 and is considered the level of “sexually violent predator.”(Marion County Sheriff's Office Sex Offender Registry)

Court documents obtained by WXIN, WTHR and WIBC say that the 12-year-old girl went with a family member to the hotel to find her mom. They found her mother at the hotel with Pierce.

The court documents say the mom temporarily left her daughter alone in the hotel room with Pierce while she carried some items out to her vehicle.

When the mom returned, she allegedly found Pierce on top of her daughter, in the process of taking off her clothes. He is also accused of having a gun in his hand.

The girl’s mother allegedly shouted at Pierce to stop, pulled out her own gun and shot him, court documents say.

The mom and daughter then ran from the hotel and drove away, but they called police and returned to the scene.

Pierce was taken to the hospital in critical condition. While a warrant has been issued for his arrest, officials confirmed to WXIN that he remains hospitalized.

An online court case summary filed Wednesday by the State of Indiana shows Pierce is facing multiple charges, including attempted rape, attempted child molestation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and confinement of a victim under 14 years old.

Pierce is listed on the Marion County Sheriff’s Office sex offender registry. Online records show he was ed in 2019 and is considered the level of “sexually violent predator.”

The registry shows he was previously convicted of two child molestation cases in 2016 and sentenced to several years in prison.

It’s unclear if the 12-year-old’s mother will face any charges in the shooting case.