HAMMOND, Ind. (WRTV) — An Indiana State Police trooper was shot, and a suspect died after shots rang out during an interstate police shooting in Hammond early Tuesday.
Indiana State Police identified the suspect late Tuesday morning as Aaron Barnes, 34, of Gary.
The Hammond Police Department says the incident unfolded just after midnight on I-94 eastbound, just east of the Indiana-Illinois border.
A trooper had pulled over a suspect during a traffic stop for a traffic violation. While stopped, ISP says the trooper requested "immediate assistance after encountering two non-compliant occupants inside the vehicle." The trooper held them at gunpoint until backup arrived.
A Hammond police officer and two Lake County Sheriff's Department deputies arrived at the scene first. As they approached the suspect vehicle, Barnes, the driver, pulled out a gun.
Both parties exchanged gunfire; at some point, the suspect and the trooper were shot.
Barnes died at the scene.
The trooper sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, ISP Sgt. Fifield said in a press conference. The trooper was taken to a hospital for treatment and is reportedly in "stable condition" as of 8 a.m. ET.
On Tuesday evening, state police sent a release saying, "The Trooper underwent successful surgery at the University of Chicago Hospital and has since been released."
He is now at home recovering.
Fifield noted the trooper is a K-9 officer. While the K-9 was present during the shooting, it was not injured.
ISP says a female passenger in the suspect vehicle, also 34 years old, has been taken into custody and is being held at the Lake County jail on a temporary hold.
No other injuries were reported.
All eastbound and two westbound lanes of I-94 at Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond were closed while crews investigated. Traffic was being diverted at Calumet Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard.
This story has been updated to include further information from Indiana State Police.
