An Indiana State Police trooper was shot multiple times early Friday morning during a confrontation at a Speedway gas station near U.S. 421 and Interstate 94 in LaPorte County, triggering a massive law enforcement response and an hours-long manhunt that ended with the suspect being found dead. Authorities say the wounded trooper is expected to survive and remains in stable condition as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting. (https://www.wndu.com)
According to Indiana State Police, the incident began after law enforcement in Berrien County, Michigan, reported a stolen silver Ford F-150 traveling toward Indiana. An Indiana State Police trooper located the vehicle on Interstate 94 and initiated a pursuit after it exited onto U.S. 421. The chase ended at a Speedway gas station just south of Michigan City, where the suspect’s pickup collided with the trooper’s patrol vehicle. During the confrontation that followed, the suspect allegedly opened fire, striking the trooper multiple times. Police said the trooper returned fire before the suspect fled the scene in the stolen truck. (NBC Chicago)
Key Incident Details
- Incident: Indiana State Police trooper shot during pursuit of a stolen vehicle.
- Location: Speedway gas station near U.S. 421 and Interstate 94, LaPorte County, near Michigan City, Indiana.
- Date: Friday, July 10, 2026.
- Time: Approximately 5:00 a.m.
- Responding Agency: Indiana State Police, assisted by multiple regional law enforcement agencies.
- Trooper’s Condition: Shot multiple times; transported first to Franciscan Health before being transferred to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where police said the trooper is stable, undergoing surgery, and in good spirits.
- Suspect Vehicle: Reportedly a stolen silver Ford F-150 originating from Berrien County, Michigan.
- Suspect: Fled after the shooting; later found dead near Wozniak Road and Joliet Road in the Westville area.
- Search Operation: Approximately 100 officers, including SWAT teams and K-9 units, participated in the manhunt.
- Public Safety: Residents near Westville were asked to remain indoors while officers searched for the suspect.
- Investigation: Indiana State Police are investigating both the shooting and the suspect’s death. (https://www.wndu.com)
Following the shooting, emergency medical personnel rushed the injured trooper to Franciscan Health before the officer was transferred to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for specialized treatment. During a news briefing, Indiana State Police confirmed the trooper had suffered multiple gunshot wounds but was listed in stable condition while undergoing surgery. Officials also stated the trooper remained in good spirits despite the seriousness of the injuries. (https://www.wndu.com)
The suspect fled the Speedway gas station immediately after the exchange of gunfire, prompting one of the largest law enforcement operations in the region this year. Officers later located the abandoned pickup truck approximately five miles south of the initial shooting scene near Westville. Law enforcement established a second crime scene in the area of Wozniak Road and Joliet Road, where tactical teams, K-9 units, drones, and numerous officers searched nearby wooded terrain. Residents were advised to shelter indoors while the search remained active. (https://www.wndu.com)
Authorities later confirmed the suspect was found dead with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds, bringing the manhunt to an end. Investigators have not yet disclosed whether the fatal injuries were self-inflicted or resulted from the earlier exchange of gunfire with the trooper. The LaPorte County Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death. Indiana State Police also confirmed there are no outstanding suspects and no additional officers were injured during the incident or the subsequent search. (https://www.wndu.com)
Indiana State Police detectives continue to investigate the shooting, reconstructing the sequence of events that began with the stolen vehicle pursuit in Michigan and ended in LaPorte County. Officials are expected to release additional information, including the identities of both the trooper and the suspect, after family notifications have been completed and the preliminary investigation advances. (https://www.wndu.com)
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