Dead suspect identified after allegedly killing roommate, THPD officer

Two scenes: Garden Quarter apartments, S. 18th Street

Apartments on Linwood/ICN file photo

65 S. 18th St (at left)/ ICN file photo

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

Perhaps in the chaos of the situation, or because she she flat out lied,  the homicide suspect's teen girlfriend's inconsistancies in her version of what had just occurred led to her arrest following a shooting just outside her apartment Friday. Whatever the case, investigators into the death of Terre Haute Police Department Officer Rob Pitts believe she did not tell the truth during questioning.

Two suspects: one dead, one in jail

Suspect Wolfe prior book-in/ Vigo Co. Jail

Julian/ Vigo Co. Jail

The Terre Haute South High School student connected to the suspect in question --- and now caught in the middle of two death investigations -- Lakrista J. A.  Julian,18, of the Garden Quarter apartment complex inTerre Haute, was booked into the Vigo County Jail, at 1:40 a.m. Saturday. She is  charged with obstruction of justice related to investigation into the death of Pitts  and the suspect police allege killed him and another man at 65 S. 18th St.

According to the probable cause affidavit, prepared by Officer Bradley Rumsey, of the Terre Haute Police Department, a  male witness had reported information that a man, Robert "Paulie" Olson, 26, had recently been shot and killed by his roommate, Christopher Wolfe,  21,  at the 18th Street residence. Further investigation led to informaton that the victim's girlfriend had not been able to reach him the night of May 3 and had contacted Wolfe's girlfried, Julian, to inquire if she knew his whereabouts. Julian reportedly said she didn't know where Olson was at the time. The victim's girlfriend noted that his car was not at the home when she had checked. 

Police located the suspect's vehicle Friday around 2 p.m. at Love's gas station at S. US 41 and Halan Drive, with a female believed to be Julian driving and a male believed to be Wolfe in the passenger seat. They followed them to the apartment complex near Carlisle Road.

Three dead

Victim Pitts: Killed in line of duty/ THPD photo

Victim Olson: Killed in 18th St. home/ Prior book-in Vigo Co. Jail

Suspect Wolfe prior book-in/ Vigo Co. Jail

​When approached by police, Wolfe allegedly fired shots from an upstairs apartment, killing Officer Pitts. A standoff ensued with multiple agencies assisting, and ultimately, the Terre Haute Police Department SWAT team entered the building after 9 p.m. and reportedly found Wolfe dead in the hallway of the building at 8016 Linwood St.

According to the court documents, Julian lied to investigators about whether or not she knew Wolfe had a gun and other details, including which of them was driving the vehcile and which of the two entered the building first. She said she was scared after hearing the exchange of gunfire.

Meanwhile, she did explain that Wolfe confided to her when he picked her up from school Friday -- and that's he admitted to shooting and killing Olson. They drove around talking about it before going to her apartment, according to the report.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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