Three people died, including the shooter, and two police officers were injured in a shooting in a supermarket in Indiana on Monday night, according to the local police.
Police received a call at 5:30 pm about a shooting at Martin’s supermarket in the 500 block of East Jackson Boulevard in the city of Elkhart, about 15 miles east of South Bles.
The officers arrived at the scene and found two dead victims inside.
“Both individuals were declared deceased on the scene,” Elkhart police said in a press release.
Police said the officers hired the shooting suspect near the store and two officers were shot. In the exchange of shots, the suspect of shooting was shot dead.
Both officers were transported to local hospitals for evaluation. One was treated and discharged from the hospital and the other remains hospitalized in a “fair but stable condition” from Monday night.
Police said it is believed that there is no more danger to the public.
The names of the suspect, the victims and the officers involved were not revealed, awaiting family notification.
The authorities did not say what the shooting could have motivated. The Elkhart County Homicide Unit is handling the investigation and is asking for witnesses who communicate with the unit at 574-295-2825.
Erin Swary, a pregnant mother, told the local news station Wndu that she was in the store checking when she heard shots.
“Then we listen to a pop. And honestly, I thought it was a balloon. Call me crazy, but I thought it was a balloon, ”Swary told the station. “After that, I would say that there were six to eight more shots, only one just after another”
“Then, I was on the floor, only frozen. Obviously I didn’t want to run when there was still shots, but everything I could think while I was there was my children. And, if he reached that corner, I thought he would probably go or shoot him, ”he added.
The head of the Elkhart Police Department Dan Milanese called the shooting as a “horrible situation.”
“Words cannot express the pain that is felt in our community when a tragic incident like this occurs. This pain is especially felt by the victim’s families, the officers who responded, the families of the wounded officers and all witnesses of this tragic incident, ”he said. “I want to thank our local partners for the application of the law, including the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police, for their support and assistance during this time. I ask the community to continue to keep all those affected by this horrible event in their thoughts and prayers. ”
The mayor of Elkhart, Rod Roberson, said in a statement: “Our hearts are broken in Elkhart tonight. Continue to pray for the victims, including our two police officers who were injured, our heroic lifeguards and those of the incident. “
The governor of Indiana, Mike Braun, wrote Monday night in X: “As details about the shooting in Elkhart arise, we are in communication with the state and local police. Maureen and I are praying for the victims and their families. “