Full Notification

Marquis Thomas, 18 of Merrillville who had sustained life threatening injuries and was transported to Loyola Hospital yesterday, January 18^th, 2017 has died of his injuries there this evening.  Family has been notified.
 
Earlier release from this morning:
 
Gary, Lake County-The fleeing passenger from yesterday’s shooting has been identified as Marquis Thomas, 18 of Merrillville.  He was transported to Loyola Hospital in Illinois by ambulance with life threatening injuries.  His family has been notified.
 
The driver of the silver car, later identified as a 2007 Toyota Avalon has been located and has made a statement and is not considered a threat to this case.
 
K-9 Blade is in stable condition. Any further questions about the K-9 or the identity of their officer should be directed to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
 
This case is complex and the investigation is continuing.  More information will be released when it becomes available.
 
Original release below:
 
 
Gary, Lake County-Detectives with the Indiana State Police have been requested by the Lake County Sheriff to investigate a police action shooting that involved one of their police officers in Gary.  Shortly, before 3:00 p.m., this afternoon, the police officer made a traffic stop in the 700 block of 42^nd Street when a passenger fled from the car.  The car, identified at the time as a silver vehicle, and its driver fled west bound on 42^nd from the stop. 
 
The county officer and his K-9 partner Blade pursued after the passenger who ran down an alley toward rail road tracks that were north of the stop.
 
At some point near the rail road tracks the passenger shot at the county officer hitting his K-9 Blade.  The county officer returned fire and hit the fleeing passenger once. 
 
Another county officer arrived on scene and disarmed the passenger. The passenger was taken to North Lake Hospital in Gary with life threatening injuries.
 
K-9 Blade was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment and then transported by police car to Purdue Veterinary Hospital in West Lafayette, IN.
 
The investigation is ongoing, and is still in the preliminary stages. This is all the information that will be released at this time.
 
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.