A judge declared a mistrial Monday after a woman said she told other jurors she couldn’t be “fair and impartial” and would miss an appointment that week, lawyer Scott King said Tuesday.
Paul Sloat, 29, of East Chicago, is accused of shooting a trucker in the chest on Aug. 22, 2022 as his father tried to prevent the driver from taking off. The men said the semi had just clipped their mirror off.
Sloat is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery by means of a deadly weapon and battery resulting in serious bodily injury. He has pleaded not guilty.
He believed he was protecting his father, King argued.
The lawyer asked Judge Gina Jones for a mistrial after the juror was interviewed on the stand — not long after the jury was picked. Deputy Prosecutor Judy Massa agreed, he said.
The trial is reset for Oct. 14.
An affidavit alleges Sloat was turning onto 5100 Melton Road when the truck driver went around them and clipped off the mirror.
Sloat’s father, the passenger, told him to “go get the truck” to get the license number. About a half-mile east, Near Lake Street and Melton Road, the two men got out and confronted the driver at a stoplight.
The semi driver, then 64, said he didn’t engage with the men. When the father went in front of the cab, he tried to leave. Sloat jumped on the cab and fired about five shots, the driver believed.
One hit him in the chest and lodged in his shoulder. He drove to an INDOT building, 7601 Melton Road, to get help. The driver later denied following too closely and didn’t realize he may have hit the mirror.
The confrontation was caught on video.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/05/mistrial-declared-in-truckers-shooting-off-melton-road/