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Ind. suspect in standoff fatally shot

Indianapolis Star

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — One person is dead after a police standoff overnight on Indiana 43 north of Lafayette.

Police exchanged gunfire with a man inside a house near Battle Ground, before surrounding it for several hours.

One officer was slightly injured in the gun battle. According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Kim Riley, family members of a person inside a house at 7315 Indiana 43 North phoned police around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, concerned about a man inside the house.

Officers from the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department responded, entering the house.

“When they went in, he opened fire on them,” Riley said. The officers exchanged gunfire with the man, before exiting the house. They were able to rescue the sole other person inside the house at the time.

Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Maj. Charles Williams was struck by a single bullet during the gun battle, Riley said.

He was treated and released from a local hospital.

After exiting the house, Sheriff’s deputies and officers from several other agencies surrounded the house. Around 12:45 a.m., they started an attempt to negotiate with the man.

“Shortly after that they heard a single gunshot,” Riley said. Several more attempts at negotiation were unsuccessful over the next several hours.

Around 5 a.m., a SWAT team entered the house and found the man dead inside, Riley said.

His identity has not been released. Police shut down Ind. 43 from County Road 600 North to County Road 800 North for several hours overnight. The road reopened around 6 a.m., Riley said.

Investigators are still on the scene and will likely be there for several more hours, Riley said.

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