Two Michigan City officers were involved in an off-duty shooting incident on Saturday afternoon.
According to an Indiana State Police report, the officers were working security at Franciscan Health in Michigan City when they were called to the parking lot for a family dispute. Thomas J. Walsh III, 46, of Michigan City, reportedly did not want to leave the passenger seat in a Ford F-150 pickup truck to seek medical assistance.
According to the preliminary investigation, the fully uniformed officers approached Walsh and during their interaction, Walsh reportedly withdrew a handgun from within the vehicle and pointed the weapon at the officer standing by the driver’s side door. According to police, the officer standing by the passenger side door pulled his weapon and shot Walsh several times for fear of injury or death to his fellow officer.
Medical personnel arrived at the scene and Walsh was later flown to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for treatment. He is listed in critical condition.
Indiana State Police detectives and crime scene investigators continue to collect evidence and information in this case which will take several weeks to complete. The La Porte County Prosecutor will receive all information in the case to make a determination on how to proceed.
The Michigan City Police Department will release the names of their officers at a later time.
