What was reported
A woman was struck multiple times in the head and face at a gas station on State Road 38 in Lafayette on the evening of Tuesday, September 29, 2026, according to the Purdue Exponent's report[1]. This account is based on reporting from a single outlet, and the investigation is ongoing.
The incident reportedly happened at about 7 p.m. at the Family Express on State Road 38. Lafayette police arrested a 53-year-old Lafayette man. He faces felony robbery and domestic battery charges, misdemeanor theft, resisting law enforcement and domestic battery charges, and a habitual offender enhancement. Bond was set at $5,000 cash.
No hospital transport was reported. The Purdue Exponent reported the arrest on Thursday, October 1. The man is presumed innocent, and the description of the incident remains an allegation.
What an injured person can do next
If you have been assaulted, getting medical care is important even when the injuries initially seem minor. Blows to the head and face can cause concussions and other injuries that may not be obvious at first. You can also review general information about brain injury claims and medical documentation.
Keep copies of your medical records, photographs of your injuries, and the police report number. Information about preserving injury evidence can help you understand why organized records matter, although every incident has different facts.
Victims of violent crime in Indiana may be able to apply to the state's Violent Crime Victim Compensation Fund for certain expenses. A criminal court can also order restitution. A civil claim against the person responsible is a separate option.
Why the location and deadlines matter
The reported incident happened at a gas station on State Road 38 in Lafayette, in Tippecanoe County. The Lafayette Police Department investigated, and the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor's Office filed charges. A civil claim arising from an injury there would ordinarily be filed in the Tippecanoe County courts.
Indiana's general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. That period runs from the date of the injury, not the end of a criminal case. More information about the general filing period is available in this guide to Indiana injury claim deadlines.
Under Indiana's Comparative Fault Act, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, responsibility can be divided among those involved. An injured person whose fault is greater than 50 percent recovers nothing. Otherwise, the recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault.
No source has reported facts about security at this location, and nothing in the available reporting suggests the business did anything wrong. Whether a property owner bears responsibility depends on evidence about the property, notice, security, and the circumstances of the incident.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps people across Indiana who were hurt because of someone else's wrongful conduct. Chad Delventhal can explain how a civil claim may proceed alongside a criminal case, gather available records, and identify the deadlines that apply.
Insurance companies and other defendants may aggressively defend a civil claim, even when criminal charges are pending. No result can be promised. If you want to discuss your circumstances, the firm offers a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
