A 33-year-old man was shot by a Hammond police officer Sunday night in northwest Indiana.
Officers responded to a well-being check at 7:19 p.m. in the 1500 block of 177th Place in Hammond, according to statements from Indiana State Police and Hammond police. At the home, officers made contact with the 33-year-old man, who had contacted a veteran’s help hotline and was contemplating suicide.
Officers talked to the man until he returned to the inside of his residence, police said. While inside, he picked up at least one firearm and the officers returned to their vehicles. At one point, he fired a gun while inside his home. Further attempts to negotiate with him were not successful.
At 9:52 p.m., the man came outside of the house and leveled his shotgun at the officers, police said. A member of the Hammond Police SWAT team fired one shot from his rifle, striking the man. No other injuries were reported.
He was taken to Munster Community Hospital where his condition stabilized, police said. He remains under police guard at the hospital, and charges are pending against him as of Monday morning.
He was wearing body armor and in possession of a handgun and a knife, in addition to the shotgun he dropped after he was shot, according to Hammond police.
The officer who discharged his weapon was placed on administrative leave with pay, according to Hammond police.
Indiana State Police are investigating the officer-involved shooting.
