A mother in Indianapolis reportedly shot a convicted child molester after discovering him in the act of allegedly assaulting her 12-year-old daughter in a motel room. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Baymont Inn, according to court documents. The mother, whose identity remains undisclosed, found Bruce Pierce, a resident of Indianapolis, allegedly assaulting her child. The preteen was reportedly resisting Pierce’s advances prior to the mother’s intervention.
The grandmother of the young victim informed the police that Pierce had been communicating with the 12-year-old via online platforms and phone calls. He was allegedly trying to convince the girl to elope with him, as per the documents obtained by local media on Wednesday.
Pierce was subsequently arrested and faces multiple charges, including attempted rape and child molestation. He is listed in the Indiana Sex Offender Registry. On the day of the incident, the victim and her sister sought their grandmother’s help when their mother did not return home. They later found their mother and Pierce in the motel’s lobby.
The court documents further reveal that the girl was left alone with Pierce in the motel room while her mother and sister were moving items to their car. The preteen was reportedly feeling unwell. Seizing the opportunity, Pierce allegedly pinned the girl to the bed and began to undress her. The mother interrupted the assault and shot Pierce, who was also reportedly armed.
The mother and daughter managed to escape the motel and joined their relatives in the car before contacting the police. Pierce was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. He is yet to be taken into custody.
The incident took place on May 24, 2025. Pierce is facing charges of attempted rape, child molestation, unlawful possession of a firearm, and confinement. An arrest warrant has been issued against him. Pierce had previously pleaded guilty to child molestation charges in 2016.
The young victim was also treated at a children’s hospital after allegedly being struck by the suspect’s gun. The reason for the mother and Pierce’s presence in the motel lobby prior to the shooting remains unclear.