Full Notification

Attached is the original ISP release and the response letters from the White County Prosecutor's Office to the Indiana State Police and the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department. This is in reference to a shooting that occurred in April, in White County

White County-  On April 10, 2015, at  approximately 3:45 p.m. EST a hostage situation that started in Watseka, IL ends in Monon, IN with the hostage freed and the suspect shot after allegedly pointing his firearm at police.

The investigation has revealed that the suspect robbed a business at gunpoint in Watseka and fled the scene by foot.  He then was confronted by police at an auto dealership where he took a female hostage and fled in her Napa delivery truck.  Police lost the vehicle after crossing into IN.  Officers from the Newton County Sheriff’s Department and Benton County Sheriff’s Department attempted to locate the vehicle.

At approximately 5:36 p.m, an armed robbery occurred in Lafayette at the Lafayette City Cash America on Elmwood that allegedly involved the Napa truck.  The suspect vehicle lead police up north 9^th St into Battle Ground, through the country into Brookston were stop sticks were deployed.  The vehicle ran over the stop sticks and the pursuit was slowed until the truck pulled into a parking lot on the north edge of Brookston where the suspects dumped the damaged truck and moved himself and his hostage at gunpoint and took a SUV.

The SUV continued north through Reynolds on US 421 to Monon where the Monon Police deployed stop sticks which the SUV ran over.  While attempting to avoid the stop sticks, the SUV hit another car.  Damage from the crash and deflation of the tires, the SUV was becoming disabled.  On the north side of Monon, the SUV ran a silver Chrysler van off the roadway.  The driver and the two passengers exited the van and the suspect moved his hostage at gunpoint to the van.

Police were able to box the van in and as the suspect pointed his weapon at the officers, the officers defended themselves and fatally wounded the suspect.  The hostage was able to exit the van and escape with the help of other officers at the scene. The hostage received superficial wounds and was treated and released from IU Health White Memorial Hospital in Monticello, IN.  Names of the officers involved, the hostage and the suspect will not be released at this time.  The investigation is continuing.

Assisting agencies were the ISP Criminal Investigations Division, Watseka Illinois Police Department, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department, White County Sheriff’s Department, Monon Police Department, Reynolds Police Department, Brookston Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, Newton County Sheriff’s Department Monticello Fire Department Mel’s Wrecker Service and Farney’s Wrecker Service.

Information about what occurred in Watseka, IL should be directed to the Watseka Police Department.  The information about the robbery in Lafayette should be directed to the Lafayette Police Department.  All other inquiries should be directed to Sergeant Kim Riley. 

Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in as court of law.

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                                       RILEY