Austin Majko, Illegal Firearm Possession, Indiana 2023

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Austin Majko, 33, of Indianapolis, is headed to federal prison for four years after being convicted of illegally possessing a firearm – a charge stemming from a volatile mix of domestic abuse and reckless gunplay. The case highlights the deadly connection between domestic disputes and firearms, a nexus federal authorities are increasingly focused on.

According to court documents, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers first encountered Majko on July 23, 2021, responding to a 911 call regarding shots fired on the city’s west side. The victim, a vehicle recovery agent attempting to repossess Majko’s 2013 Ford Focus, reported that Majko opened fire as the vehicle was being driven away. Four .40 caliber casings were recovered at the scene, confirming the shooting.

Later the same day, IMPD responded to a domestic violence call in the same neighborhood. Witnesses told police they observed Majko physically assaulting a woman and then brandishing a handgun. A search of Majko’s garage revealed multiple firearms, including a .40 caliber handgun matching the casings found earlier, hidden inside two toolboxes.

The discovery was particularly damning given Majko’s criminal history. He is prohibited under federal law from possessing any firearms due to prior felony convictions, including two counts of robbery resulting in bodily injury. This wasn’t a case of a first-time offender simply making a mistake; it was a convicted felon deliberately arming himself despite knowing he was legally barred from doing so.

“A gun can turn domestic abuse deadly in a matter of seconds,” stated U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana. “Research shows that armed domestic abusers pose a profound risk to the safety of those closest to them and to the public at large.” This case was pursued under the LEATH Initiative – a collaborative effort between ATF, IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, named in honor of fallen IMPD Officer Breann Leath. The initiative specifically targets domestic violence offenders illegally possessing firearms.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Daryl S. McCormick added, “It unfortunately bears repeating that we all deserve to be safest in our homes…ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute domestic abusers who possess firearms.” U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker imposed the four-year sentence, along with three years of supervised release following Majko’s imprisonment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett prosecuted the case as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a nationwide effort to reduce violent crime and gun violence.

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