Indiana Man Charged After Allegedly Chasing IHOP Cook with Knife

An Indiana man, Austen Wable, 28, has been charged after an incident at an IHOP restaurant in Muncie on Thursday. According to court documents, Wable entered the restaurant accusing a cook of having an affair with his wife and allegedly fired a weapon before confronting the cook. Reports indicate that Wable was intoxicated at the time. Witnesses stated that he shouted, "You f–ked my bitch, bro," while pushing the kitchen worker. During the altercation, Wable allegedly pointed his gun at the cook, which discharged, resulting in a gunshot wound to his leg. Following the confrontation, Wable pursued the cook into the parking lot with a knife. It is unclear if he was armed with the knife when he entered the restaurant. Wable then fled the scene in his wife's Buick Enclave SUV, leading police on a chase that reached speeds of approximately 110 mph. The pursuit ended when Wable crashed the SUV into a home. Upon exiting the vehicle, he appeared disoriented and initially refused to cooperate with law enforcement. Wable's gunshot wound was treated, and he has been charged with three Level 5 felonies: shooting a firearm into an inhabited building, intimidation with a deadly weapon, and unlawful carrying of a handgun. Each Level 5 felony carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison. Wable has a prior conviction from 2021 for carrying a gun without a license.