Authorities Report Woman Allegedly Displayed Firearm from Fanny Pack in Child Encounter

An alarming incident unfolded in Indiana when a woman allegedly brandished a firearm at children in a local park, reportedly threatening one child with the chilling words, “I’ll light you up,” according to local law enforcement.

Ashley Nicole Maxwell, aged 31, now faces a slew of serious charges. These include two counts of intimidation with a deadly weapon and two counts of intimidation involving threats of a forcible felony. Additionally, Maxwell is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent offender, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, unlawful carrying of a handgun, carrying a handgun as a person with a prior felony conviction within the last 15 years, and driving with a suspended license.

The troubling events took place at Columbian Park in Lafayette on Sunday evening, as detailed by the Lafayette Police Department.

Authorities were alerted around 5:55 p.m., responding to distressing reports of an armed individual in the vicinity, as noted in a probable cause affidavit referenced by WXIN, a Fox affiliate based in Indianapolis.

Upon arrival, officers interviewed several children, whose ages ranged from 7 to 14. The young witnesses described encountering a woman wearing a pink bonnet and a blue shirt, matching the description provided to the police. Their testimony painted a disturbing picture of the incident, prompting the charges now faced by Maxwell.

The woman had pulled a gun out of her fanny pack and brandished it at them before later threatening to blow up the park, the children said.

The gun-toting woman also threatened to shoot some of the children, according to the witnesses. In one instance, the woman threatened a child directly by saying she would “light him up,” police said.

As the investigation continued, police obtained a license plate number said to belong to the vehicle the suspect left the park in, according to the affidavit. A search of records then led investigators to another person whom they termed a known confidant of Maxwell.

Less than 20 minutes after arriving at the park, police spotted the defendant driving the vehicle on 21st Street, law enforcement stated. A traffic stop was performed at the intersection of Thompson Street and Lincoln Street, roughly half a mile from the park.

There were six children in the car with Maxwell, and her driver’s license was suspended, police said. The defendant was said to be wearing a blue shirt and a crossbody satchel when she was pulled over.

Officers also allege they could smell marijuana on Maxwell’s breath, according to the affidavit. When police questioned her about the odor, the defendant said she had a joint in her pocket, police claim.

Maxwell was also charged with one count of possession of marijuana.

The defendant was subsequently booked into the Tippecanoe County Jail. During the jail intake process, officers found a pink bonnet in one of Maxwell’s pockets, police said.

As the investigation continued, police went to the defendant’s residence to inquire about firearms. A man there said there were no guns inside, denied police entry and permission to search, and said they “were not getting into his safe,” according to the affidavit.

Later, officers obtained a search warrant and allegedly discovered different kinds of ammunition and various firearm accessories inside the house. Then, police discovered a black grocery bag in the backyard containing a Taurus GC2 9 mm handgun, magazines, a black plastic holster, two cellphones and a baggie containing various kinds of ammunition, police said.

Investigators determined Maxwell had recently made a phone call to one of the residents asking them to hide the gun and ammunition somewhere outside of the house, according to the affidavit.

The defendant is being detained on a $200,000 surety and $20,000 cash bond. She is next slated to appear in court on July 17.