Officials have released the names of the Indiana State Trooper who was shot Friday, June 10 and the man suspected of shooting the trooper.
Also, the LaPorte County coroner ruled the suspect’s death was caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, WSBT-TV reported.
The injured trooper was identified as Sgt. Justin Heflin, who was originally treated locally before being airlifted to Memorial Hospital South Bend, where he was reported to be in good spirits and condition despite the multiple gunshot wounds.
The deceased suspect was identified as 54-year-old Kevin Meyers of LaPorte.
Meyers was accused of running from police in New Buffalo who suspected him of driving a stolen pickup truck. He allegedly crossed the state line into Indiana, where he was eventually chased by Heflin.
The chase ended about 7 a.m. outside a Speedway station on U.S. 421 just south of Interstate 94, where the truck reportedly crashed into the trooper’s vehicle.
ISP Sgt. Glen Fifield said the suspect opened fire on the trooper, who returned fire.
Following the gunfire exchange, more than 100 officers were involved in a manhunt for the suspect, Fifield said, adding the stolen truck was found along a tree line with help from a police helicopter near Westville in the area of Joliet Road and Wozniak Road.
Fifield said more shots were heard during the search before the suspect was found dead a few hours later in a cornfield in that same area.
The manhunt included the use of drones with cameras, along with dogs.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Names released of trooper & suspect shot; suspect death ruled suicide
Reporting by Cory Havens, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cory Havens, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
