Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Elkhart Man Fatally Shot by Police in Marshall County Incident

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. (WNDU) – In a tragic incident that unfolded in Marshall County, an Elkhart man lost his life after a shooting involving a deputy from the St. Joseph County Police Department and an officer from the Mishawaka Police Department in the early hours of Sunday morning.

According to the Indiana State Police (ISP), the authorities received a distress call reporting gunshots fired in Roseland’s 200 block of S. Dixie Way just before 5:10 a.m. In response, a St. Joseph County deputy promptly identified the suspect’s vehicle, a black 2004 Lincoln SUV, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.

However, the driver refused to comply, initiating a high-speed pursuit across multiple counties. When the chase reached Capital Avenue/Elm Road, officers from the Mishawaka Police Department joined forces to apprehend the suspect.

Eventually, the driver of the Lincoln drove off-road, venturing into a field located approximately half a mile south of the intersection of Elm Road and Tyler Road in Marshall County. At this point, the suspect reportedly abandoned the vehicle and attempted to escape on foot.

Indiana State Police revealed that both the St. Joseph County deputy and the Mishawaka officer discharged their firearms at the suspect. It remains unclear whether the suspect returned fire at the police during the encounter.

Tragically, the suspect, identified as 54-year-old Johnny Lee Wood from Elkhart, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. An autopsy for Wood is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 26.

The investigation into the incident is being handled by the Indiana State Police, who will subsequently transfer all relevant information to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for further review.

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