More details have been released about Wednesday’s murder-suicide at the St. Joseph Rehabilitation Institute on Elm Road in Mishawaka.
48-year-old Michael A. Jarvis was identified as the man that shot and killed Dr. Todd Graham in the parking lot.
St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter says the shooting happened because of a disagreement over prescription drugs for his wife. Cotter says Dr. Graham denied his wife opioid medications, which caused Jarvis to snap and get into a heated argument with Dr. Graham.
A few hours later, at about 1 p.m., Jarvis encountered Dr. Graham once again outside the orthopedic building. Another argument ensued before Dr. Graham drove next door. Cotters says Jarvis followed, ordered two witnesses to leave, and then shot Graham twice in the head.
After the shooting, Jarvis took off and went to a friend’s house near Marian High School. Cotter says he told his friend and made some concerning statements. The friend called police, but before officers arrived, Graham shot himself at the residence. He was found with two gunshot wounds.
“This was a person who made a choice to kill Dr. Graham. This is not fallout from any opioid epidemic or opioid problems. This was a person who made that choice. That probably leads us to an examination of what’s happening with the opioid problem in our community and our whole nation. I know our Indiana State Medical Association is working very strongly on trying to address that problem. But today we’re talking about a man who made a choice to kill another person. We’re not talking about the opioid problem. That’s certainly something we need to address. Was that a contributing factor in his decision? We don’t know that yet. We have our own suppositions but I don’t want to talk about something I don’t know for sure. I do know for sure that Jarvis made that choice to kill Dr. Graham and that’s why we’re here today,” said Prosecutor Cotter.
