An Indiana man is facing a stack of felony charges after allegedly firing a gun inside a Muncie IHOP during a confrontation with a cook he accused of sleeping with his wife, then leading police on a high-speed chase that ended when he crashed into a brick house. The dramatic sequence of events, which unfolded on Thursday afternoon, has drawn national attention for its chaotic escalation from a restaurant dispute to a 110 mph pursuit.
Austen Geoffery Leigh Wable, 28, was taken into custody following the crash and is being held at the Delaware County Jail without bond. According to court documents cited by multiple Indiana outlets, no one was fatally injured in the incident, though Wable himself may have been wounded during a struggle over the firearm.
As with any pending criminal case, the charges against Wable are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and the account below is drawn from police documents and witness statements as reported.
Here is a breakdown of the Austen Wable IHOP shooting, what allegedly sparked it, and the charges he now faces.
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Austen Wable IHOP Shooting: What Allegedly Happened
According to police documents reviewed by Fox59 and other outlets, officers with the Muncie Police Department were dispatched to an IHOP in the 3300 block of North Chadam Lane on Thursday afternoon after receiving a report of a man with a gun. The incident reportedly stemmed from a 911 call describing an alleged affair.
A caller told police that Wable had entered the restaurant and begun accusing one of the cooks of having sex with his wife. According to a witness who spoke with investigators, Wable, described as “extremely drunk,” pushed the cook while yelling, “You f***** my b**** bro.”
The witness, an IHOP employee who allegedly tried to de-escalate the situation, told police that Wable pointed a handgun at the cook. The employee said they stepped in to try to get the weapon away from Wable, and during the ensuing struggle, the firearm discharged.
Officers who later arrived at the scene located a firearm and a shell casing on the floor.
Chaos erupts in IHOP as man storms in firing gun and accusing cook of sleeping with his wife https://t.co/4mvVA78YE7
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) October 14, 2026
The Affair Accusation at the Center of It All
The entire confrontation, according to the reporting, was driven by Wable’s accusation that the IHOP cook had been involved with his wife.
The allegation of an affair was referenced in the initial 911 call and repeated by Wable during the confrontation, according to witness accounts. It is this accusation that police say triggered the escalating sequence of events inside and outside the restaurant.
It is important to note that the affair allegation is exactly that, an allegation made by Wable in the course of the incident. No independent confirmation of any relationship between the cook and Wable’s wife has been reported, and the claim has not been substantiated in the available reporting.
A Gunshot, a Knife, and a Return to Work
The details that emerged from witness statements describe a rapidly escalating and chaotic scene.
During the struggle over the handgun, the witness told police they believed Wable may have accidentally shot himself in the leg. The employee said they were “pretty sure” Wable had been hit, noting they observed a hole in the back of his pants and recalled Wable saying, “I’m leaking.”
After the gun discharged, the confrontation reportedly moved outside. According to the witness, Wable continued yelling at the cook and chased him with a knife into the parking lot.
In one of the more unusual details from the police documents, the witness said that after the parking-lot confrontation, Wable “went back inside and continued to work while someone was calling 911,” suggesting Wable may have been an employee at the location. He left the scene a short time later, driving his wife’s SUV, reportedly a Buick Enclave.
The 110 MPH Police Chase and Crash
The incident was far from over when Wable left the IHOP.
As officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Wable allegedly sped away, triggering a high-speed pursuit. According to court documents, Wable reached speeds of over 110 mph, weaved through traffic, and drove on the wrong side of the road as police followed.
The chase came to a dramatic end when Wable’s vehicle crashed into a two-story brick house on South Hackley Street.
Officers said that Wable failed to comply with their commands after the crash and had to be subdued with a Taser before he could be taken into custody. He refused to answer questions during his arrest, according to the documents.
Wable’s gunshot wound was reportedly treated following his arrest.
The Charges Against Austen Wable
Wable faces a significant list of preliminary charges stemming from the incident, according to court records.
The felony charges include:
- Criminal recklessness for shooting a firearm into an inhabited building
- Intimidation with a deadly weapon
- Unlawful carrying of a handgun
- Pointing a firearm
- Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering a person
Several of these are Level 5 felonies under Indiana law, including shooting a firearm into an inhabited building, intimidation with a deadly weapon, and unlawful carrying of a handgun.
In addition to the felonies, Wable faces misdemeanor charges, including resisting law enforcement and driving with a suspended license.
Notably, court records indicate that Wable had previously been convicted in 2021 of carrying a gun without a license, a prior offense that may be relevant to the current firearm-related charges.
Wable is being held at the Delaware County Jail without bond pending a bond hearing.
Where the Case Stands
As of the latest reporting, Wable remains in custody without bond. The charges against him are preliminary, meaning prosecutors will formally review the case and determine the final charges to be filed.
No fatalities were reported in connection with the incident. The cook who was the target of the confrontation was not reported to have been struck by gunfire, and the primary injury appears to have been Wable’s own, allegedly sustained during the struggle over the weapon.
The residents of the home that Wable’s vehicle crashed into were not reported to have been injured in the crash.
Because the case is in its early stages, further details, including the formal charges and any statements from the parties involved, are expected to emerge as the legal process moves forward.
Austen Wable IHOP Incident: Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Suspect | Austen Geoffery Leigh Wable, 28 |
| Location | IHOP, 3300 block of North Chadam Lane, Muncie, Indiana |
| Date | Thursday afternoon (October 2026) |
| Alleged trigger | Accusation that a cook had an affair with Wable’s wife |
| Alleged actions | Pointed handgun at cook; gun discharged in struggle; chased cook with knife |
| Self-inflicted injury | Allegedly shot himself in the leg during the struggle |
| Getaway vehicle | His wife’s SUV (Buick Enclave) |
| Police chase | Reached speeds over 110 mph |
| Chase ending | Crashed into a two-story brick house on S. Hackley Street |
| Arrest | Subdued with a Taser |
| Felony charges | Shooting into inhabited building, intimidation, unlawful handgun carry, pointing a firearm, resisting with vehicle, OWI |
| Prior record | 2021 conviction for carrying a gun without a license |
| Custody status | Held without bond at Delaware County Jail |
| Fatalities | None reported |
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Muncie IHOP?
Austen Wable, 28, allegedly entered an IHOP in Muncie, Indiana, and confronted a cook he accused of having an affair with his wife. According to police, he pointed a handgun at the cook, the gun discharged during a struggle, and he later chased the cook with a knife before fleeing and leading police on a high-speed chase.
What sparked the Austen Wable IHOP shooting?
According to police documents and witness accounts, the confrontation was triggered by Wable’s accusation that the IHOP cook had been sexually involved with his wife. The allegation was referenced in a 911 call and is an unsubstantiated claim made by Wable during the incident.
Was anyone killed in the IHOP shooting?
No fatalities were reported. The cook was not reported to have been struck by gunfire. The primary injury appears to have been Wable’s own, as a witness said he may have accidentally shot himself in the leg during a struggle over the gun.
How did the police chase end?
The pursuit ended when Wable allegedly crashed his wife’s SUV into a two-story brick house on South Hackley Street in Muncie. He was subdued with a Taser after refusing to comply with officers’ commands.
What charges does Austen Wable face?
Wable faces multiple felony charges, including criminal recklessness for shooting a firearm into an inhabited building, intimidation with a deadly weapon, unlawful carrying of a handgun, pointing a firearm, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He also faces misdemeanor charges.
Does Austen Wable have a prior criminal record?
Yes. According to court records, Wable had previously been convicted in 2021 of carrying a gun without a license.
Is Austen Wable in jail?
Yes. Wable is being held at the Delaware County Jail without bond pending a bond hearing.
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Last Updated on October 14, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
