According to a press release from the Michigan City Police Department, on March 11th at 5:56pm Central Time, the La Porte County regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding a person who was traveling to Full Gospel Church, located at 2700 Ohio Street, to shoot a known parishioner while armed with explosive devices and a firearm.
Officers responded to the church and located 41-year-old Michigan City resident Matthew Schutz sitting with parishioners. Schutz fled from officers and attempted to exit the building as they approached him.
Officers discovered Schutz was in possession of multiple explosive devices at the time he was apprehended. Technicians from the Porter County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad responded to the scene and assisted investigators with this investigation.
A search warrant was obtained for Schutz’s residence in the 200 block of Brinkman Avenue where investigators located additional explosive devices and manufacturing materials. The Porter County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad took custody of the explosive devices that were seized during this investigation. Investigators learned during this investigation that Schutz intended to target a second known person and their family at a residence in the 600 block of East Barker Avenue.
On March 13th, Schutz was charged with the following:
- Attempted Murder (Level 1 Felony)
- Possession of a Destructive Device or Explosive (Level 2 Felony)
- Stalking (Level 5 Felony)
- Resisting Law Enforcement (A-Misdemeanor)
Schutz was issued a $100,000 cash bond. There is no ongoing threat to the community at this time.
Additional information pertaining to this incident will not be released at this time to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
