Indiana police officer shot in emergency room after helping stranded driver
The officer had tried to help a stranded driver before discovering that the man was possibly linked to another crime, according to authorities
A La Porte County, Indiana, deputy was seriously injured after being shot several times inside a hospital while trying to assist a stranded driver, state authorities reported.
The officer was identified as Jon Samuelson, 33 years old and a member of the La Porte County Sheriff's Office for 12 years, according to a press conference from the authorities cited by Fox News.
The officer was shot three times Friday morning and was airlifted to Memorial Hospital of South Bend, where he remains in critical condition.
The suspect was arrested near the hospital
The alleged attacker, Sharod Grafton Jr., was arrested shortly after in a wooded area near the hospital.
The Indiana State Police indicated that investigators located a firearm that was allegedly in the suspect's possession.
The authorities have not yet detailed what charges the detainee will face.
According to Sergeant Glen Fifield, the officer was heading to a training session around 6:45 a.m. when he observed a driver stranded on State Road 2.
The driver was Sharod Grafton Jr., a Chicago resident.
At some point, the suspect asked to be transferred to Franciscan Hospital in Michigan City, according to the investigation.
Once inside the hospital, the agent received information that the man could be related to a previous criminal incident.
Authorities explained that the officer returned inside the hospital, where an altercation occurred in the emergency room.
During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Jon Samuelson.
The suspect subsequently fled into a nearby wooded area before being arrested.
Police did not reveal details about the previous crime to which the man was related.
Authorities described the attack as “senseless.”
Sergeant Glen Fifield called the incident a “senseless shooting” and noted that the officer was simply trying to help a person.
Authorities indicated that Jon Samuelson comes from a family with a long history in law enforcement.
His grandfather was police chief for the city of La Porte and his father worked as a police officer in Michigan City.
For his part, county sheriff Ronald Heeg asked for support and prayers for the agent and his family.
The La Porte County Sheriff's Office stated that the attack was an isolated incident and assured that there is no immediate threat to the community.
The investigation remains open under the direction of the Indiana State Police.