Teen charged in downtown shooting

A Bloomington teenager has been charged with two felonies after a downtown shooting Jan. 7 involving a police officer.  

Christian A. Ogle, 16, was charged Tuesday with attempted aggravated battery, a Class B felony, and attempted battery with a deadly weapon, a Class C felony, said Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bob Miller.  

Bloomington Police Department officer John Coleman shot Ogle in his chest and abdomen near the Bloomington Transit bus terminal at Fourth and Washington streets after Ogle moved toward Coleman with a knife.

That afternoon, Ogle called 911 and reported a man at the bus terminal had a knife and was threatening to kill police. When Coleman responded, he found Ogle had described himself, according to police reports.

Coleman saw the teen’s knife and repeatedly told him to drop it. After Ogle ignored Coleman’s commands and lunged toward him, Coleman fired.

The officers were cleared of any wrongdoing.

The Class B felony charge carries a 6- to 20- year jail sentence, and the Class C felony carries a possible jail sentence of two to eight years. Because Ogle is 16, he was charged in a juvenile court, Miller said.

Ogle was charged with crimes that would have been felonies if he were an adult. The date for the trial has not yet been set.

“Worst case scenario, and of course we’re not even talking in these terms, the most that could be done to him is he could be detained until he is 21,” Miller said. “That’s really up to the judge.”