Indiana Man Left Hole in Coworker’s Jaw After Pummeling Him With Hammer, Cops Say

An Indiana man has been arrested after authorities said he allegedly attacked one of his coworkers with a hammer.

Around 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 20, officers were called to Bright Sheet Metal Company in Indianapolis for a reported battery, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

At the business, officers found a man with trauma to his face and back of the head. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in serious condition and received treatment for a brain bleed, several skull fractures, a cut to his face, a hole in his jaw and several missing teeth, authorities said.

The victim claimed he was working at a station inside the sheet metal company when he was hit in the back of the head and went unconscious. The victim told investigators multiple coworkers likely witnessed the attack.

Detectives spoke with other employees, who identified 27-year-old Austin Hahn as the suspected assailant.

Witnesses said Hahn and the victim were “the best of friends” but had gotten into a fight the week before. One coworker alleged there was a problem between Hahn and the victim that made the victim mad, but Hahn apologized later that day and there was no further issue, officials said.

Coworkers described seeing Hahn on the day of the attack approach the victim from behind and swing a hammer above his head multiple times to hit the victim in the head, police said.

Witnesses said Hahn then allegedly threw the hammer in a trash can before “calmly” walking out the back entrance and driving away in his car.

Another coworker, who did not witness the attack, told police Hahn walked into a backroom at the business, tapped him on the chest and said “s*** happens” before he walked out to the parking lot.

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Investigators also spoke with Hahn’s roommate, who said they were not close despite living together because Hahn allegedly had been using “a lot” of marijuana.

After the attack, police said, Hahn drove to his mother’s house in Anderson, and his mother contacted the Anderson Police Department to report her son’s alleged involvement in the attack.

Hahn was booked into the Criminal Justice Campus and charged with attempted murder, officials said.

His jury trial has been scheduled for Oct. 30.