Muncie man charged with trying to kill ex-girlfriend

Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press
·2 min read

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man has been charged with trying to kill his former girlfriend.

Darrin ONeal Brooks Sr., 29, is charged in Delaware Circuit Court 2 with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and stalking.

Brooks was arrested on Sept. 10 after he allegedly fired about six gunshots when a 23-year-old Muncie woman emerged from Big Shots Pub, 700 S. Nichols Ave.

The woman — who was not hit by the gunfire — told police Brooks had earlier called and sent her text messages, threatening to come to the bar and beat her. Investigators said the woman had a protective order against Brooks as the result of earlier threats.

Brooks told police he was not outside the tavern at the time the shots were fired, and also denied possessing a gun.

More:Gunfire leads to attempted murder charge against Henry County man

Formal charges in the case were filed Oct. 10, and Brooks was arrested again on Thursday. He is being held in the Delaware County jail under a $70,000 bond.

Attempted murder is a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison. The other two charges are Level 4 felonies with maximum 12-year sentences.

The Muncie man also faces a count of domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman, a Level 5 felony with a maximum six-year sentence, filed in November 2021. His trial in that case is set for April 25 in Delaware Circuit Court 5.

That case involves the same alleged victim, and allegations she was beaten in September 2021.

He was again accused of attacking the woman on Jan. 2, resulting in the filing, on Feb. 14, of two more charges against Brooks in Circuit Court 5 — domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a pregnant woman and strangulation. The trial in that case is set for May 2.

On Oct. 17, he pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in Muncie City Court. In that case, he was accused slashing the tires on the same woman's car.

Brooks' record includes convictions for domestic battery, intimidation, resisting law enforcement, dealing in cocaine, and unlawful sale of a handgun.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Gunfire outside Muncie tavern leads to attempted murder charge