LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — The Indiana State Police has identified the trooper shot in LaPorte County and the suspect that was found dead.
Officials identified the trooper as Sergeant Justin Heflin, a 12-year-veteran of the Indiana State Police. He also served in the U-S Marine Corps.
He initially was taken by another officer to Franciscan Hospital in Michigan City before being taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. ISP said he’s been in good spirits after a successful surgery and is surrounded by family.
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RELATED: Indiana State Police trooper in stable condition at Memorial Hospital after shooting
The suspect in this shooting was identified as 54-year-old Kevin Meyers of La Porte. WSBT has been checking his criminal history and it’s an extensive. It shows a half-dozen arrests for auto theft plus several others. This is not Meyers first time being involved in an officer-involved shooting. A check of the WSBT archives shows Meyers was shot by police during a police pursuit in 2019 in St. Joseph County. That chase ended in a farm field off State Road 23 north of Walkerton.
RELATED: Police chase through corn field ends with officer-involved shooting in St. Joseph County
The suspect accused of shooting an Indiana State Police trooper was found dead, according to the Indiana State Police.
On Friday morning an Indiana State Police Trooper was shot in LaPorte County just south of Michigan City after a pursuit that initially began in Berrien County.
After the pursuit ended and the suspect shot the trooper, police searched for the truck after the gunman drove off.
Suspect accused of shooting ISP trooper found dead in LaPorte County
A helicopter then located the suspect nearly 10 miles South of the original location just east of Westville. ISP located the suspect’s vehicle near Joliet and Wozniak Roads.
According to the Indiana State Police, the suspect was found dead and his injuries were consistent with gunshot wounds.
“The suspect in this shooting was located a short time ago deceased at the location I mentioned earlier down near Joliet and Wozniak road. He did have injuries consistent with those of gunshot wounds,” said Sgt. Glen Fifield, Indiana State Police.
The ISP trooper is in stable condition after being shot multiple times. He was taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
An Indiana State Police Trooper has been shot in LaPorte County just south of Michigan City after a pursuit that initially began in Berrien County. (WSBT Video)
“The suspect proceeded to shoot at our trooper, and our trooper sustained multiple gunshot wounds,” said Sgt. Glen Fifield, Indiana State Police.
The police response was massive. There were over 100 officers at the scene around 9 a.m. Central Time. Police departments from the Indiana State Police, LaPorte County Sheriff, Mishawaka, Saint Joseph County, Michigan City and even some federal agencies responded including the FBI, ATF and the US Marshalls.
An Indiana State Police Trooper was shot and in serious condition. The suspect was later found dead about 10 miles from the location of the shooting. (WSBT photo)
Two armored SWAT trucks were dispatched. Police were prepared, they deployed riot shields, helmets, bulletproof vests, search dogs and large guns for what we can assume was the planned take down of the suspect.
An Indiana State Police Trooper was shot and in serious condition. The suspect was later found dead about 10 miles from the location of the shooting. (WSBT photo)
“To my knowledge, the tactical teams down there located him in the field. We were using aviation, drones, K9s. All those resources were being used in the search for him,” said Fifield.
A young woman, child and dog were taken to safety by an armored vehicle. We do not know how close they were to the wooded area where the suspect was later found with gunshot wounds.
Police say there is no threat to the community.
An Indiana State Police Trooper has been shot in LaPorte County just south of Michigan City after a pursuit that initially began in Berrien County. (WSBT Video)
The shooting happened just after 7 a.m. on Friday at a Speedway gas station near the I-94 and U.S. 421 interchange.
On Friday morning, Indiana State Police held a news conference at the Speedway south of the U.S. 421 interchange near I-94 to update.
According to authorities, this chase started around 5:30 a.m. in Berrien County. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office deputies were trying to make a traffic stop because of suspicion of a stolen vehicle.
RELATED: Community reacts after Indiana State Police trooper shot in LaPorte County
The suspect, who is still not named by police, led Indiana State police on a chase that ended at this Speedway in Michigan City.
Around 7:16 a.m. local time, a crash in the parking lot led to shots being fired between the officer and the suspect.
The trooper was struck multiple times.
An Indiana State Police Trooper has been shot in LaPorte County just south of Michigan City after a pursuit that initially began in Berrien County. (WSBT Photo)
The officer returned fire, and the suspect then took off, heading south from the Speedway.
Troopers picked up their wounded officer and took him to the hospital a short distance away.
“Our focus is on the status of our trooper and finding this dangerous individual,” said Fifield.
That trooper is currently in stable condition at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
