LaPorte County deputy Jon Samuelson shot, critically hurt at Franciscan Health hospital in Michigan City
A LaPorte County Sheriff's Office deputy is in critical condition after being shot at Franciscan Health hospital in Michigan City, Indiana, Friday morning.
LaPorte Couty Sheriff Ron Haeg identified the deputy as 33-year-old Jon Samuelson.
According to Indiana State Police, around 6:45 a.m. Deputy Samuelson stopped to help a disabled vehicle on State Road 2 about a mile east of Westville, Indiana. The driver of the car, who was the only person in the car, asked Samuelson to take him to Franciscan Health, which the deputy did.
State police said after dropping the driver off at the hospital, Samuelson was notified that he was suspected to be involved in previous criminal activity overnight. He returned to the hospital to speak to the driver in the Emergency Room, at which time there was a physical altercation and then police said the driver pulled out a gun and shot Samuelson three times.
The shooting did take place inside the emergency department building, though Sgt. Glen. Fifield said he did not know exactly where inside it happened.
The suspect ran away from the hospital and into the woods nearby. A short time later officers responding to the shooting found him and took him into custody.
Sheriff Haeg identified the suspect as 22-year-old Sharod Grafton, Jr. of Chicago. Neither Haeg nor Fifield had any details about what criminal activity Grafton Jr. had been suspected of being involved in. He was taken to LaPorte County Jail and will be transferred to Porter County Jail, where he will remain in custody, Fifield said.
Fifield said Grafton had a handgun on his person when he was taken into custody.
Samuelson was taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital in critical condition for treatment.
"This is a senseless shooting that didn't need to take place," Sgt. Fifield said. "This officer thought he was helping a stranded motorist, and it turns into this."
Fifield said the investigation is still in its preliminary stages and there are many question still unanswered, including whether Grafton was patted down or searched in any way when he got to the hospital.
Samuelson has been with the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office for 12 years and worked as a K-9 officer, though his K-9 was not with him Friday morning. He is married with no children, and comes from a family with a long law enforcement history. Haeg said his grandfather was the Laporte City Police Chief, and his father is a retired from the Michigan City Police Department.
Haeg said Samuelson's father works part-time as a security officer for Franciscan Health and was at the hospital at the time of his son's shooting.
Police said they will continue to give updates as information becomes available. They said all persons involved in this shooting are in custody at this time and there is no ongoing threat to hospital staff or the community.
Franciscan Health confirmed the emergency department remains on ambulance bypass, but walk-in patients are being accepted through the main entrance to the hospital.
"The health and safety of our patients and staff is always our top priority. There is no active threat to patients, staff, or the community at this time," The hospital said in a written release. "Franciscan Physician Network medical offices on site are closed at this time. All other services and departments remain open as normal."
