Staff Report

Edward McKinley Liggins

GOSHEN — A Warsaw man was recently arrested in Elkhart County after shooting a man in Goshen.

Edward McKinley Liggins, 45, 704 W. Center St., Warsaw; also showing an address of 3762 W. Old Road 30 Lot 630, Warsaw; is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; battery by means of a deadly weapon, a level 5 felony; pointing a firearm at another person, a level 6 felony; and habitual offender.

On Feb. 5, Goshen Police officers responded to a shooting report. A woman said she and a man were asked by an individual if they would help move a dresser at a residence. Upon arrival at the residence, Liggins pistol-whipped the man and shot him in the leg.

On Feb. 14, officers interviewed the man who was shot. According to court documents, the man said he and the woman were given a ride to the residence after being promised money in exchange for helping move a dresser. Upon arrival, the individual who asked for assistance in moving the dresser left the vehicle, then came back and waved for the man and woman to come inside. When the man made it to the front door, the individual closed the door most of the way and told him to hold on. The individual then slammed the door shut and Liggins emerged from another door with a pistol in each hand. Liggins allegedly said “Remember me, remember me” and pointed a gun at the woman. Liggins hit the man in the head with one of the guns and then shot him in the leg. After the shooting, Liggins left the scene.

The man said the incident may have taken place because he had taken a fanny pack from Liggins that contained illegal items approximately six months prior. The man said he knew Liggins to be a drug dealer.

On Feb. 15, officers interviewed the residence’s homeowner. The homeowner said she had been at home during the incident when she received a text message from the individual who said he was going to bring the man to the residence. She said the individual had offered the man $10 to move a dresser at her house in order to get him to come. The woman said Liggins and the individual discussed how they would handle the situation. She heard Liggins state on other occasions how he wanted revenge against the man for prior actions against him.

On Feb. 18, Liggins was incarcerated at the St. Joseph County Jail. During an interview with officers about the shooting incident, Liggins said “I wasn’t trying to kill him…I just really wanted to whoop him…I wanted to beat him up.” Liggins said his actions were intended to “just to scare him and hit him with it a couple times.”

Liggins was previously convicted of robbery, operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator and non-support of a dependent child.

For the shooting incident, Liggins was booked in the Elkhart County Corrections Facility on July 1, with a $100,000 bond.