What began as a routine domestic dispute call on a quiet Danville street ended with two people dead — a husband shot by police, and his wife found unresponsive behind their home — in a sequence of events that left a neighborhood shaken and four law enforcement agencies under review.
The Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office received the initial call around 1 p.m. on May 25. Deputies responded to the home on Edgewood Drive, just south of downtown Danville, and attempted to make contact. A man — later identified as Brian Branagin, 51 — came out of the house, then retreated back inside. When deputies tried again, Branagin reappeared with a rifle, cycling in and out of the home multiple times.
Recognizing the threat level, the sheriff’s office called for backup. Officers from Avon, Brownsburg, Danville, and Plainfield converged on the scene. When Branagin stepped outside again and pointed the rifle directly at the assembled officers, six of them opened fire. First aid was rendered immediately, but Branagin was pronounced dead at the scene.
With the immediate threat neutralized, attention turned to the woman reportedly involved in the original domestic call. Officers searched the property and found Ellie Branagin, 52, in a grassy area behind the home. She had suffered undisclosed trauma. Medics and officers worked to save her, but she too was pronounced dead.
The Hendricks County Coroner’s Office confirmed on May 26 that the two were married to one another. Investigators are still working to establish the exact nature of events that unfolded inside the home before police arrived.
In Memoriam — Ellie Branagin
“Ellie was deeply passionate about helping others and dedicated her life to improving the health and well-being of her patients. She cared deeply for every person who walked through our doors, and her compassion, energy, and commitment to making a difference will never be forgotten.”
— Ashley Regal and the Total Body Wellness team, Brownsburg, Indiana
Ellie Branagin was the owner of Total Body Wellness, a wellness practice in Brownsburg. The business posted a tribute on Facebook the day after her death, asking patients and the public to respect the staff’s privacy as they grieve. The practice said it would be reaching out directly to Ellie’s current patients about their care.
“Any time domestic violence escalates to loss of life… there’s always going to be that sense of loss. What could we have done differently?”— ISP Master Trooper Nick Klingkammer
Indiana State Police Master Trooper Nick Klingkammer spoke to the broader toll such incidents take — not just on victims, but on communities, families, and the officers involved. He urged anyone experiencing domestic violence to seek help before situations reach a point of no return.
Neighbor Jack Wise said he had not known the Branagins personally, but heard the gunshots around 1:30 or 2 p.m. “It’s really a tragedy,” he said. “You really don’t want to hear that sort of thing.”
Indiana State Police took over the investigation at the request of the responding agencies. All six officers involved were placed on administrative leave per standard departmental policy. As of May 26, ISP confirmed the investigation remains ongoing and no further details are being released publicly at this time.
