Stephen Ray Lang called 911 to report an accidental gunshot inside the family's Mauckport, Indiana home Thursday night. When authorities arrived at the Hillcrest Drive residence shortly before 10 p.m., they found his wife, Sara M. Lang, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Background
The Harrison County Sheriff's Department responded to the call and immediately launched an investigation into the shooting that left two children — a 14-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl — inside the residence, according to investigators. Lang, 32 years old, was arrested at the scene Thursday night.
Family members provided additional context about what allegedly led up to the fatal shooting. Stephen Lang's sister, Sarah Shireman, told Louisville ABC affiliate WLKY that the incident began with an argument between Sara Lang and her teenage son. Shireman claimed her brother intervened during the dispute and pulled out a handgun in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
"With all the bickering going back and forth, I think he was literally just trying to get them to be quiet, and everybody just calm down," Shireman told the station.
Shireman acknowledged that her brother had previously displayed a firearm during arguments. "He pulled it out because he thinks he was hot stuff," she said. Despite those encounters, Shireman maintained her belief that her brother did not intentionally kill his wife. "My brother is not a killer. My brother is the sweetest... would do anything to help anybody."
Stephen Lang's father offered a different characterization of the deadly incident, telling reporters it was "a simple, little, stupid argument that got out of hand."
The Charges
Lang has been charged with one count each of murder, domestic battery, intimidation, and pointing a firearm in connection with Sara Lang's death. Investigators have not disclosed what evidence led them to charge Lang with murder despite his claim that the shooting was accidental.
The Harrison County Coroner's Office is scheduled to perform an autopsy on Sara Lang as detectives continue investigating the circumstances of the shooting. The case remains under active investigation by the Harrison County Sheriff's Department.
Key Takeaways
- Stephen Ray Lang, 32, has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting his wife inside their Mauckport home
- Two children — a 14-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl — were present when Sara M. Lang was fatally shot
- Lang called 911 claiming the shooting was accidental; detectives have not explained what evidence prompted murder charges
- A 9 mm semi-automatic handgun has been identified as the weapon used in the shooting
- The Harrison County Coroner's Office is scheduled to perform an autopsy on the victim
What's Next
Lang remains in custody following his arrest. An initial court appearance has not yet been scheduled, and formal arraignment dates have not been set. The Harrison County Sheriff's Department said detectives continue to investigate the shooting, with the coroner's office expected to provide additional information about Sara Lang's cause of death once the autopsy is complete.