Anderson man found guilty of attempted murder after shooting Pendleton officer during traffic stop

ANDERSON, Ind. — A man has been found guilty of attempted murder after shooting a Pendleton police officer during a traffic stop in Anderson last year.

The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office announced Thursday night that Ross Morelock, 40, has been convicted of the following charges:

• Attempted Murder (Level 1 Felony)
• Possession of Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug (Level 3 Felony)
• Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon (Level 4 Felony)

Morelock also pleaded guilty to the Habitual Offender Enhancement, which could add an additional eight to 20 years to his sentence. In total, MCPO said Morelock could be sentenced up to 80 years in prison.

According to previous reports, a Pendleton officer initiated a traffic stop around 2:30 p.m. on May 7, 2024, on a vehicle believed to have been involved in an accident that had recently occurred on Interstate 69.

The officer soon found a black Mercedes sedan with a license plate that matched a vehicle of interest connected to a separate Pendleton crash. The officer proceeded to pull the vehicle over at a GetGo gas station near the intersection of Broadway and W. School Streets.

MCPO said the traffic stop was recorded from a security camera at the gas station, a dash-mounted camera on the Pendleton officer’s vehicle and the officer’s body worn camera.

After pulling the suspect vehicle over, the videos showed the officer approach the black Mercedes sedan that had 23-year-old Amelia Peters in the driver’s seat and Morelock sitting in the passenger seat. Both of the individuals were quickly identified by the officer as persons of interest in connection with the other investigation.

MCPO said Morelock, who was seated in the front passenger seat, provided the officer with a fake name and date of birth. It was later revealed that Morelock had three active warrants for his arrest, with one out of Madison County for Nonsupport of a Dependent Child and two other warrants out of Fayette County for Dealing in Methamphetamine.

The officer asked Peters to step outside of the vehicle before placing her in handcuffs. During this interaction, the officer reportedly gave Morelock three loud commands to keep his hands up and where he could see them.

Morelock reportedly ignored these instructions, prompting the officer to display his department-issued handgun. Morelock then pointed a handgun back at the officer. The officer’s handgun then malfunctioned after he attempted to discharge the weapon.

The officer quickly cleared his firearm before firing four rounds at Morelock. The suspect returned fire with six rounds at the officer. One of these shots grazed the officer’s shoulder, leaving a 1 inch long surface wound.

Morelock reportedly exited the passenger side door of the vehicle and shot himself in the head, according to MCPO.

The officer was transported to Community Hospital in Anderson and was released later that same day. Morelock did not sustain any other injuries during the incident other than the self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.

The prosecutor’s office later confirmed on May 13, 2024, that the shooting was legally justified. Morelock is set to appear in Madison Circuit Court 4 on April 15 at 9 a.m. for a sentencing hearing.