A police officer in Highland, Indiana, shot a shoplifting suspect during an altercation that unfolded when officers responded to a shoplifting call at Kohl's, authorities said.
The shooting occurred before 4 p.m. at the Highland Grove Shopping Center, located along Indianapolis Boulevard north of Main Street. According to authorities, security at Kohl's noticed a man who was allegedly shoplifting and then called 911. The suspect had been observed shoplifting at the store in at least two previous incidents, Highland police said.
Once officers arrived at the location, they made contact with the suspect near a silver Ford Escape. At that point, an altercation ensued between an officer and the driver, leading another officer to fire shots into the vehicle, police said. The suspect was shot in the arm and taken to an area hospital, according to authorities. A woman riding in the vehicle was taken in for questioning.
One officer was slightly injured in the altercation, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the shooting. A second officer discharged a gun, striking the suspect in the hand. The suspect and injured officer were both transported to hospitals.
Footage from Sky 5 showed crime scene tape surrounding a portion of the parking lot as well as an SUV inside the taped-off area that appeared to have collided with other vehicles.
The sheriff's department said it was handling the investigation at the request of Highland police. According to a spokeswoman, detectives and crime scene investigators were at the scene following the shooting, conducting interviews and collecting evidence.
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NBC 5 has yet to independently verify the account of events provided by law enforcement.
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