*UPDATE*- Indiana State Police Requested to Investigate Officer Involved Shooting in Valparaiso

Valparaiso- The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division at the Lowell Post has completed their interviews of the officers involved in the shooting that took place in Valparaiso on April 25, 2024. 

The Indiana State Police can release the following information about the incident.  On Thursday, April 25, 2024, at approximately 2:04 p.m., officers from the Valparaiso Police Department and the Porter County Sheriff's Department responded to the area of Fairgrounds Park to investigate a report of a male subject that had been displaying a handgun. Officers located a male that matched the description given out by the dispatchers near Butterfield Pavilion which is in Fairgrounds Park.  As officers engaged with the suspect, the suspect ran west towards Calumet Ave. The suspect shot several times at the officers and at a police vehicle.  Officers returned fire as they continued to pursue the suspect.  The foot pursuit continued west through an alley to Valparaiso St. where the suspect ran onto the porch of a house and again raised his handgun at the officers.  Officers fired their weapons at the suspect, striking him and incapacitating him.  Officers handcuffed the suspect and rendered first aid until paramedics arrived on scene.  Paramedics transported the suspect to Northwest Health Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by the Porter County Coroner.

At the request of the Valparaiso Police Department and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department, their statements are included below as well as the original news release. This investigation is ongoing. Once the investigation has been completed, all information obtained will be turned over to the Porter County Prosecutor for review.

Valparaiso Police Department News Release.pdf

Porter County Sheriff News Release.pdf

Original News Release

Valparaiso- Valparaiso Police Chief Andrew McIntyre and Porter County Sheriff Jeff Balon requested the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division Lowell Post to investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred in Valparaiso. Preliminary information is that officers were dispatched to the area of Fairgrounds Park for a suspicious person that was reported to be displaying a handgun. Officers located a male subject that matched the description of the suspect near the Butterfield Pavilion. As officers approached the suspect, the suspect fled and ran towards Calumet Ave.  During the foot pursuit, an exchange of gunfire took place between the suspect and the officers.  Officers from both the Valparaiso Police Department and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department were involved.

The suspect sustained injuries as a result of the gunfire and was transported to Northwest Health Hospital where he was declared deceased.  The identity of the deceased will be released by the Porter County Coroner.

Identification of the officers involved in this incident will be made at a later date. This is an active investigation, and no further information is available for release.

-30-