NORTH WEBSTER – The Indiana State Police has been asked by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department to take the lead on an officer involved shooting that took place earlier tonight in North Webster. The shooting involved an on duty Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy and an individual that had purportedly been involved in an armed road rage encounter with another driver.
Around 6:00 p.m. tonight, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call of a road rage incident involving a man with a gun. At this time it is believed that the incident began in Syracuse near the Pride gas station on SR 13. Preliminary reports suggest that two individuals left the area in separate vehicles south bound on SR 13. At some point during the encounter one of the individuals reportedly fired several shots at the other driver.
A deputy with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department located the two vehicles involved in the incident in North Webster. A short time later the deputy was involved in a crash at the intersection of Main Street and Huntington Street with the pickup truck and driver that was suspected of shooting at the other driver. The force of the crash sent the suspects truck into a brick building on the corner.
As the deputy approached the truck and driver, the encounter led the officer to discharge his weapon at the individual. The facts and circumstances surrounding the shooting are being investigated.
The driver of the truck was treated at the scene for a gunshot wound and injuries received in the crash. He was taken to Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne for treatment. The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time. The deputy is being treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital for injuries he received in the crash. The condition of the other driver is unknown at this time.
The names of the parties involved as well as the name of the deputy will be released within the next 48 hours.
This is a fluid and ongoing investigation. No other information is available at this time. As more detailed information becomes available it will be released by the state police.
Information provided by Sgt. Trent Smith, Public Information Officer for Indiana State Police Bremen District 24.
