Greg Ferency

Greg Ferency, a 53-year-old White man, was a decorated detective who had served with the Terre Haute Police Department for 30 years. In addition to his local duties, he had been a federal task force officer with the FBI since 2010. His obituary described him as an avid reader who loved to travel, a friend to all he met, and the father of two children, Nicholas and Payton. For his service, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the Wounded in Combat Medal by his department.

On the afternoon of July 7, 2021, Detective Ferency was ambushed and killed outside the FBI Resident Agency building in Terre Haute, Indiana. A man later identified as Shane Meehan drove his pickup truck to the secure gate of the federal property, got out, and threw a Molotov cocktail at the building. When Detective Ferency came outside, Meehan shot him. Though wounded, Ferency was able to return fire. An FBI agent inside heard the gunfire, rushed out, and exchanged shots with Meehan, who was wounded in the gunfight. Meehan then got back into his truck and drove away from the scene.

Meehan was located and taken into custody the same day after he sought treatment for his gunshot wounds at a local hospital. He was subsequently indicted on federal charges, including the premeditated murder of a federal officer, attempted arson of federal property, and using a firearm during a crime of violence causing death.

In July 2022, federal prosecutors filed a notice that they would not seek the death penalty against Meehan. From early in the proceedings, his attorneys argued that he had a significant history of mental illness, submitting extensive medical records to the court and signaling their intent to pursue an insanity defense. The legal case was delayed for several months while Meehan’s mental state was evaluated.

In May 2026, U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon ruled that Shane Meehan was mentally fit to stand trial, finding that he was able to understand the proceedings and assist in his own defense. Both the prosecution and defense attorneys accepted the forensic evaluation that led to the judge's conclusion.

With Meehan declared competent, the case moved forward. As of June 2026, a trial date has been scheduled. Meehan’s federal trial is set to begin on May 10, 2027, at the federal courthouse in Terre Haute, with a pretrial conference scheduled for April 27, 2027.