Suspect in day-care shooting arrested in Kentucky

The suspect sought in the shooting of his ex-wife outside a Northwestside day care was arrested Wednesday in Lexington, Ky., the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said.

Indianapolis police had issued a warrant on an attempted murder charge for Christopher Justice, 33. He is accused of shooting his ex-wife in the day care's parking lot Tuesday morning.

Justice turned himself over to police Wednesday, his family said in a statement.

EARLIER STORY:Twists and turns in custody fight.

"Christopher was not hunted down and captured, he gave himself up to the authorities," the family wrote in an emailed statement. "Not the action of a mad man or a monster."

The statement appeared written by Charles Thornton, Justice's stepfather.

"Christopher's mother and I expressed, to all family members and extended family, if anyone were to have contact with Christopher to encourage him to turn himself in to the authorities," the statement reads. "In fact, that is exactly what occurred. Christopher Justice turned himself in to police at 150 East Main Street, Lexington KY in the company of a relative at about 8:25PM February 19, 2014.

"That same relative also called an officer with the Indianapolis police department to inform them of Christopher's action."

The statement said the family has "continually pleaded in prayer to God for the life of Shirley Justice and Christopher Justice in the same breath and with one voice."

Police had been looking for Christopher Justice since Shirley Justice, 31, was found at 7:20 a.m. Tuesday with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot of Eagle View KinderCare Learning Center, 6750 Eagle View Drive.

Shirley Justice told police her ex-husband shot her while she was dropping off their 6-year-old child at the child care center.

She was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in critical condition. Updates on her condition were not available Wednesday.

The two had been involved in a lengthy custody battle over the child. Last week, Marion County Superior Court Judge Patrick McCarty awarded custody of the child to Christopher Justice.

The day that order was filed, however, Shirley Justice filed a request asking that McCarty be removed from the case, claiming he took too long to make his decision.

That request was approved, though both Shirley Justice and her ex-husband disagreed over what that meant for the child's custody status, according to court papers.

The child had been staying with Shirley Justice since Valentine's Day, when Christopher Justice dropped her off for visitation.

According to a motion filed in Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday by Christopher Justice's attorney, Shirley Justice refused to acknowledge the new custody order.

On Wednesday, the Indiana Supreme Court appointed a special judge, David Shaheed, to preside over the custody case.

The child was taken into protective care by the Department of Child Services on Tuesday.

Star reporter Kristine Guerra contributed to this story. Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @jdisis.