An Indiana State Police trooper was shot multiple times early Friday during a cross‑state pursuit that began in Michigan and ended with a manhunt in LaPorte County, authorities said.
Trooper hospitalized; suspect located dead
Indiana State Police said Sgt. James Heflin underwent successful surgery at Memorial Hospital in South Bend and was listed as stable following the shooting. The encounter began during a traffic stop in Berrien County, Michigan, and evolved into a pursuit that crossed into Indiana.
Authorities named the suspect as Kevin W. Meyers, 54, of LaPorte. After officers chased the vehicle across the state line, Meyers was later found dead with gunshot wounds in a cornfield about four miles southwest of LaPorte, officials said.
How the incident unfolded
- The pursuit began about 5:30 a.m. when Berrien County authorities attempted to stop a stolen pickup.
- The vehicle involved was described as a 2019 silver Ford F‑150 allegedly taken from the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan.
- During the chase, the suspect fired multiple rounds from a rifle and pointed the weapon at pursuing officers, according to police.
- After a collision between the suspect's truck and the trooper's patrol car near I‑94 and U.S. 421, the suspect fired again and fled the area.
“LaPorte County – At approximately 5:30 a.m. today, Indiana State Troopers responded to I‑94 to assist Berrien County, Michigan authorities in a stolen‑vehicle pursuit that had crossed into Indiana. During the pursuit, the suspect fired multiple rounds from a rifle and pointed the weapon at pursuing officers. The chase continued off I‑94 onto local roads, where the suspect temporarily eluded capture.”
Responding troopers loaded the wounded trooper into a police vehicle and took him for emergency care at Franciscan Health Michigan City before he was transferred for further treatment, ISP said. A large‑scale manhunt followed.
Where the search ended
The LaPorte County search culminated when the Lake County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit located the suspect's pickup concealed in a tree line in the 7500 block of Joliet Road. Officers reported hearing gunfire nearby; Meyers was located shortly after in an adjoining cornfield and was found with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. The LaPorte County coroner will determine the official cause of death.
| Time (approx.) | Event |
|---|---|
| About 5:30 a.m. | Stolen-vehicle pursuit enters Indiana from Berrien County |
| Shortly after | Collision between suspect truck and trooper patrol car; trooper shot |
| 9:16 a.m. | Truck located near Joliet Road; suspect later found dead in cornfield |
Indiana State Police and multiple local agencies were involved in the response. Officials said there was no ongoing threat to the community after the suspect was found.
The shooting highlights risks troopers and local officers face during pursuits that cross jurisdictional lines. Investigations into the exact sequence of events, the source of the fatal wounds to the suspect and any additional evidence remain ongoing. The LaPorte County coroner and Indiana State Police will release further details as they become available.
Residents in the Michigan City–LaPorte area should expect continued law enforcement activity as investigators process the scene and complete their inquiries.
