Troopers from the Indiana State Police will be taking over the investigation of a shooting incident Thursday afternoon that started in North Judson and ended in La Porte County.
According to police, at about 4:05 p.m., a North Judson police officer recognized the driver of a vehicle who was wanted on a warrant. The officer conducted a traffic stop on State Road 10 by the CVS Pharmacy where the driver allegedly gave the officer false information. Police say the driver then fled from the scene.
A pursuit began with two North Judson officers and a Starke County Sheriff’s deputy. The suspect, later identified as North Judson resident Jeremy Lee Hansen, reportedly pointed a firearm out of the back window of the pick-up truck he was driving and fired two rounds, both missing the officers. Police say the pursuit continued until Hansen’s pickup came to a rolling stop in the area of 2300 South and U.S. 421 in rural La Porte County. It was then when Hansen shot himself once in the head, according to police.
Hansen, 34, was taken to IU Health Hospital in Knox and later airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. His condition is life-threatening.
The La Porte County Sheriff’s Department assisted in securing the area until the Indiana State Police Crime Scene Technicians arrived.
More information about the incident will be released when officers continue their investigation.
