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Shooting Victim Arrested For Intimidation, Battery

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Shooting Victim Arrested For Intimidation, Battery

The 20-year-old man who was shot by his grandfather at the Leesburg gravel pit during a domestic dispute April 1 has been arrested and charged with intimidation and battery.

Colby James Kuczewski, 20, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 10 a.m. Tuesday. His booking information lists his address as Wabash, but court documents filed Thursday list his address as 6008 N. Old 15, Leesburg.

He is being charged with intimidation, a level 6 felony; battery with moderate bodily injury, a level 6 felony; and two counts of domestic battery, Class A misdemeanors.

His preliminary bond was set at $5,000 surety and $250 cash.





On April 1, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputy Kraig Kuhn responded to a shooting at the gravel pit at Ind. 15 and CR 600N. He arrived to find a man – identified as Colby Kuczewski – lying on the ground. Another man, identified as Buddy Kuczewski, Colby's grandfather, showed KCSD deputy Todd Sautter where the handgun was. Kuhn  identified the two women at the scene as Buddy’s wife (Colby's grandmother), and Colby’s girlfriend, according to court documents.

Sautter spoke with the girlfriend who said Colby, another woman and she were in the vehicle and Colby wanted to drive into the gravel pit. Colby got the vehicle stuck and he called Buddy and Buddy’s wife to bring a vehicle and pull them out. While waiting for them to arrive, Colby became angry and the other woman attempted to calm him down by touching him on the shoulder. Colby pushed her to the ground and began hitting her, paperwork said.

The girlfriend said Buddy and his wife arrived and another physical altercation occurred between Colby and the other woman. Colby then got angry with Buddy’s wife and knocked her to the ground. Colby then pushed Buddy to the ground and began striking him.

During the altercation, Colby removed a knife from Buddy’s pants and began urging  Buddy to shoot and kill him. Colby then pushed the other woman down again and Buddy shot Colby in the leg.

Buddy told police he saw the other woman lying on the ground in a fetal position when he arrived. Colby then struck Buddy in the face and started making threats.

Paperwork said Colby then kept threatening Buddy and Buddy pulled out his handgun and fired a shot in the air. Colby then became more agitated and Buddy then shot toward Colby’s legs, striking him in the upper right thigh.

The other woman complained to an officer of pain to her ribs and said she believed they were fractured.

Sautter spoke with Buddy’s wife who said when Buddy and her grandson were talking, she attempted to get between them and Colby knocked her down.

She said Colby said he was going to kill her husband and everybody else and then himself.

Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton said this morning that he is “still considering” charges against Buddy.