A carjacking suspect holding a firearm was shot at by an Indiana State Police trooper after he crashed into the trooper’s car and attempted to flee on foot Monday afternoon on Cline Avenue near the Borman Expressway, police said.
After the trooper shot the suspect, the suspect jumped off the Cline Avenue bridge embankment — about a 30-foot drop. Officers immediately began to render medical aid to the suspect, who was transported by ambulance to a Gary area hospital and later transported by a lifeline helicopter to a Chicago area hospital, police said. His condition is unknown.
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Detectives from the Indiana State Police Lafayette Post are investigating the officer involved shooting with the assistance of detectives from the Lowell Post, who are leading the investigation into the shooting that occurred on Interstate 80/94 near the 9-mile marker. Both are active and ongoing criminal investigations. Once complete, they will be turned over to the Lake County Prosecutor to review and determine if any charges will be filed.
Sgt. Jeremy Piers, a spokesman for the ISP Lafayette Post, said police cannot confirm whether the suspect was struck by a bullet from the trooper’s gun at this point in the investigation.
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According to Porter/Chesterton Police, the incident started around 2:30 p.m. Monday when dispatch received a 911 call about a vehicle that was stolen from the TA Travel Center gas station in the 1600 Block of West U.S. 20. Officers learned that an 18-year-old Chicago man exited a 2010 Chevrolet Impala, brandished a firearm at a female who was pumping gas and demanded the keys to her 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. The woman was able to remove her children from the vehicle and take shelter inside of the gas station, Porter Police said.
While fleeing in the stolen vehicle, the suspect fired at least one round, Porter Police said. No injuries were reported, however; officers did locate damage to a neighboring residential neighborhood believed to be caused by gunfire, Porter Police said.
Just after 3 p.m. Monday, the Indiana State Police received the report of a possible theft that had occurred in Homewood, Illinois, and Indiana State Police Region 1 Dispatch received a report of a shooting that occurred between two vehicles traveling westbound on the Borman Expressway near the 9-mile marker.
While patrolling Cline Ave near 45th Street, Lake County Sheriff’s Department officers located the Malibu and Impala, police said. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on both vehicles, which proceeded to flee north on Cline Avenue. Shortly after, Indiana State Police joined the pursuit. The Impala, driven by a 21-year-old man from Chicago, maneuvered over a curb, which disabled the vehicle. The Impala came to stop on Cline Avenue near Ridge Road, and the suspect was safely taken into custody. He was later transported to Lake County Jail.
Officers with the Indiana State Police and Lake County Sheriff’s Department continued to pursue the Malibu onto I-80/94 westbound from Cline Avenue to Indianapolis Boulevard, police said. Then, police said the Malibu exited at Indianapolis Boulevard and reentered I-80/94 heading east. The Malibu continued on I-80/94 eastbound and exited north onto Cline Avenue, where — just north of the Borman — an Indiana State Police cruiser and the Malibu crashed into each other, police said. The suspect lost control of the Malibu and hit the concrete barrier on the east side of the road, which disabled his vehicle. He fled the vehicle, holding a firearm, when an Indiana State Police trooper shot him. Then, Thompson jumped off Cline Avenue.
Indiana State Police Lafayette and Lowell Detectives were assisted by troopers from the Lowell Post, Indiana State Police CSI, Griffith Police Department, Porter Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Gary Fire Department, and Double T Towing.
