Gary

2 Officers Shot, Suspect Killed Following Gary SWAT Standoff

The incident started after a suspect barricaded himself inside a home Monday afternoon

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Two Gary police officers were shot and a suspect was shot and killed following a standoff involving a SWAT team that lasted several hours Monday, police said.

In the afternoon hours, Gary police responded to a location in the 2500 block of Waverly Drive, which is at the Westbrook Apartment complex, to assist the Merrillville Police Dept. in searching for a suspect in an unspecified investigation.

The Gary Police SWAT Team was called to the scene at around 1:30 p.m. after the armed suspect barricaded himself inside a home, Gary Police Dept. Lt. Dawn Westerfield said. After two hours of negotiations, the SWAT team decided to enter the residence at which time two SWAT officers were shot, police said.

The officers, Cpl. James Nielsen, a 17-year veteran and Cpl. John Artibey, a 14-year veteran, were both hospitalized and listed in stable condition.

Cpl. Nielsen sustained a gunshot wound to the chest which was stopped by his bulletproof gear and a second gunshot wound to the arm. Cpl. Artibey was injured by shrapnel that hit his abdomen and chin, according to police.

The unidentified suspect, a man in his 20s, died from injuries sustained in the shooting.

The Lake County Sheriff's Dept. is leading the investigation to the officer-involved shooting.

Additional details about the suspect and why he was being sought by Merrillville police officers weren't available.

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