Friends remember Brook business owner

BROOK, Ind. (WLFI) - After Brook businessman Joel Hershman's death friends are thinking of things to say about him.

"When he would walk in he was jovial," Hershman's friend, Barbara Brown, said. "He had a smile on his face. You could joke with him."

"Joel was such a great guy," Hershman's friend, Sandra Harmon, said. "He was always there to help you out. If you needed a little extra credit he would always do that for you. If you needed work he'd always find work for you."

Friends said it was Hershman's helpful attitude that brought him to Steven Moseley. They said he let Moseley do fix up jobs at his Brook business, Hershman's True Value.

Thursday night Lafayette police were called to the parking lot of the IHOP on South Street on a report of a man being held against his will. Police believe that man was Hershman.

A police chase followed while someone fired gun shots at police. Officer Donna Gregorash returned fire. The pickup truck driven by Moseley crashed into a home on Kettle Circle.

Moseley and Hershman were found dead.

"You just never think someone in your community is going to have something like this happen to them," Harmon said. "And for it to happen so senselessly with him just trying to help somebody out, it's just awful."

Both Hershman and Moseley's autopsies were completed Saturday. Tippecanoe County Coroner Donna Avolt said Hershman has a bullet entry and exit wound in both legs.

She said he bled to death from the wounds. His death is being considered a homicide. Avolt is not commenting on Moseley's death until toxicology tests are back.

Workers at Hershman's True Value said the store will remain open. It was even open for a few hours on the Monday after Hershman's death. Local business owners said they didn't want to see the store go.

"For the town itself to lose a business on top of [what's already happened] would be awful," Harmon said.

Hershman was a lifelong resident of Brook. Now his legacy will live on at Hershman's True Value.