MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — An Indiana State Police sergeant remained hospitalized Sunday after being shot multiple times during an early-morning police chase that began in Berrien County, Michigan, and continued into northwest Indiana, officials said. The man believed to have fired on officers was found dead hours later in a LaPorte County field.
What happened
State police said the incident began with a traffic stop by Berrien County, Michigan, authorities of a pickup truck they believed was stolen from a casino property in New Buffalo. The pursuit entered Indiana on Interstate 94 and continued onto local roads before ending near a Michigan City gas station, where a trooper was struck.
"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," the Indiana State Police said in a news release.
The injured officer, identified by state police as Sgt. James Heflin, was taken to Franciscan Health Michigan City and later transferred to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where he underwent surgery. Police said the surgery was successful and that Heflin was in stable condition.
Suspect located dead
After a broad search that involved local, county and state agencies, authorities located the suspect vehicle concealed in a tree line in rural LaPorte County. The driver, later identified as Kevin W. Meyers, 54, of LaPorte, was found with gunshot wounds in a cornfield about 4 miles southwest of LaPorte and pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials have not publicly released details about how the suspect sustained the fatal wounds. Authorities said the truck was a silver 2019 Ford F-150 and that it was believed to have been taken from the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan.
Response and investigation
State police said the suspect fired multiple rounds from a rifle during the pursuit and had aimed a weapon at pursuing officers. At one point, a collision occurred between the suspect’s truck and a trooper’s patrol car; the suspect then fired from inside the pickup and fled.
Responding troopers quickly transported the wounded officer to emergency care, and a large-scale manhunt followed. The Lake County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit assisted in locating the vehicle in a tree line on Joliet Road in the Westville area of LaPorte County.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| ~5:30 a.m. | Pursuit entered Indiana from Michigan on I-94 |
| Morning | Shooting near Speedway gas station at I-94/Michigan City exit; trooper injured |
| ~9:16 a.m. | Suspect vehicle located in tree line; suspect later found in field |
- Injured officer: Sgt. James Heflin, in stable condition after surgery.
- Suspect: Kevin W. Meyers, 54, of LaPorte, found dead with gunshot wounds.
- Vehicle: Silver 2019 Ford F-150, believed stolen from Four Winds Casino.
Authorities have not released the identity of the person or persons who may have shot the suspect, and it remains unclear whether the suspect was killed by law enforcement, by self-inflicted wounds, or by other means. Investigators from multiple agencies are continuing to process the scene and piece together the sequence of events.
Community and statewide stakes
The shooting of a state trooper during a pursuit that crossed state lines underscores the risks law enforcement officers face and highlights the coordination required between Michigan and Indiana agencies in pursuits that cross jurisdictions. The case may prompt reviews of pursuit protocols and interagency communications, especially given the early-hour highway chase that moved into populated areas near Michigan City.
Officials asked anyone with information to contact Indiana State Police or local law enforcement. No arrests related to the trooper’s shooting have been announced as the investigation continues.
This is a developing story. Additional details will be published as authorities release them and as investigators complete forensic and investigative work at the scenes in Michigan City and LaPorte County.
