Indiana deputy critical after shot at hospital by Chicago man, officials say

An Indiana sheriff’s deputy was left in critical condition on Friday after a 22-year-old man from Chicago shot him in a hospital, police say.

Around 6:45 a.m., Deputy Jon Samuelson of the Laporte County Sheriff’s Department stopped near Westville to help a vehicle that appeared to be disabled, officials said. The occupant of the vehicle asked Samuelson to take him to Franciscan Health Michigan City for treatment.

After arriving at the hospital, the deputy, a 12-year department veteran, discovered the man may have been involved in a crime in Illinois.

The deputy and the man got into an altercation in the emergency room, and the man pulled out a firearm and shot Samuelson, police said.

Samuleson, in critical condition, was flown to South Bend Memorial Hospital for care.

“La Porte County friends and neighbors, we are asking for our community to rise up, rally together, and lift Deputy Jon Samuelson and his family in prayer and support during this incredibly challenging time,” Laporte County Sheriff Ronald Heeg said in a statement.

The alleged shooter, identified by police as Sharod Grafton Jr., 22, from Chicago, escaped and ran through a nearby wooded area. Responding officers found and detained him, according to the Indiana State Police said. Officers also found the firearm they believed was used to shoot Samuleson.

Grafton is being held at the Porter County Jail in Valparaiso and is awaiting charges.

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *