A Gas Station Attack, Decades of Crime, and a Justice System in Crisis: The Unbelievable Story of Courtney Boose—and Why Americans Are Demanding Answers

It’s the headline that’s shaking the heartland—and raising eyebrows from coast to coast.

Courtney Boose, a 41-year-old Indiana man, stands accused of stabbing a 69-year-old at a local gas station.
But what’s truly shocking isn’t just the crime—it’s his jaw-dropping record: 99 prior arrests over two decades, with charges ranging from theft and battery to trespassing and panhandling.

And yet, despite this staggering history, court records reveal Boose has never served a single day in state prison.

How is this possible?
Is America’s “catch-and-release” justice system putting the public at risk?
And how many chances should one person get before the law finally says “enough”?

Chapter 1: The Gas Station Stabbing That Sparked a Firestorm

It was a crime that could happen anywhere—a 69-year-old man, attacked at a gas station, left bleeding and shaken.

But when police ran the suspect’s name, what they found was almost unbelievable:
Courtney Boose, arrested 99 times since the early 2000s, with a rap sheet longer than most novels.

The charges?
– Theft
– Criminal trespass
– Battery
– Panhandling
– And more…

Convictions, dismissals, plea deals—Boose’s journey through Marion County courts reads like a never-ending loop. Even when convicted, he received just a slap on the wrist: short county jail stints, time served, or charges dropped.

Chapter 2: The System That Keeps Letting Him Go—Is “Restorative Justice” Broken?

Critics say Boose’s case is the ultimate proof of a broken system, where repeat offenders cycle endlessly through courts and jails—never facing real consequences.

Rick Snyder, President of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, didn’t mince words:

> “You’ve got someone arrested 99 times, accused now of stabbing an elderly man, and he’s never seen prison… What’s the number of times where somebody in a black robe says, ‘You know what, I don’t think this guy is getting it’?”

And it’s not just Indiana.
Across the country, cities like San Francisco are facing similar outrage—where repeat offenders rack up dozens of felonies, only to be released again and again.

Chapter 3: The San Francisco Parallels—How Many Chances Is Too Many?

Remember Troy McAlister?
San Francisco residents are still reeling from the case of the man with 91 felonies—who, while on parole, allegedly killed two pedestrians in a stolen car.

Protesters flooded the Hall of Justice, demanding answers:

> “91 felonies, 2 deaths, No more chances,” their signs read.
> “Judge Begert chooses politics over public safety. Justice NOW.”

McAlister’s case became a lightning rod for “restorative justice” reform—forcing politicians to ask:
Are we showing compassion, or putting the public in danger?

Chapter 4: The Numbers Don’t Lie—Why Is Courtney Boose Still Walking Free?

Boose’s criminal history is a maze of short sentences and dismissed charges:

– 2019: Battery with bodily injury—dismissed in a plea deal. Misdemeanor theft—just two months behind bars.
– 2020 & 2022: Felony trespass—sentenced to county jail time already served.

Even now, after the gas station stabbing, prosecutors downgraded his charge from attempted murder to aggravated battery—a move that slashes his possible prison time from 40 years to just 16.

He’s being held on $50,000 bond.
But the question remains:
Will he actually serve real time—or will history repeat itself?

Chapter 5: The Public Demands Answers—Is This the Breaking Point for “Catch-and-Release” Justice?

Across social media and talk radio, outrage is building.

– “How can someone be arrested 99 times and never go to prison?”
– “Are judges and prosecutors too soft?”
– “Is this really what restorative justice looks like?”

Families worry.
Police are frustrated.
Victims wonder if they’ll ever see justice.

And every time another repeat offender makes headlines, the calls for reform grow louder.

Chapter 6: The Human Cost—Victims, Communities, and the Price of Endless Second Chances

For every Courtney Boose or Troy McAlister, there are real victims—people who trusted the system to keep them safe.

A 69-year-old man, stabbed while pumping gas.
Two women, killed on New Year’s Eve in San Francisco.

How many more lives will be upended before the system changes?
How many more chances should one person get?

Chapter 7: What Happens Next—Will Lawmakers Finally Listen?

With Boose’s latest arrest, Indianapolis is at a crossroads.

Will the courts finally impose real consequences?
Will lawmakers rethink the revolving door of justice?

Or will America’s most notorious repeat offenders keep slipping through the cracks—leaving communities to pick up the pieces?

The Big Questions—Is “Restorative Justice” Putting the Public at Risk? Or Is There Still Hope for Reform?

The stories of Courtney Boose and Troy McAlister have become lightning rods for a national debate.

Is it time to draw the line on second chances?
Or can the system find a way to balance compassion with accountability?

One thing’s for sure:
Americans everywhere are watching—and demanding answers.

What do YOU think? Should repeat offenders like Courtney Boose finally face real prison time? Is “restorative justice” working—or does it need a total overhaul?

Comment below, share this story, and follow for more shocking true crime updates—because the fight for justice in America’s cities is only just beginning!