One Shot Leads To NWR SWAT Call Out In Lake Station Sunday
On May 17, 2020 at approximately 2:18 AM, officers were dispatched to the 2800 block of Water Town Avenue for a domestic disturbance, according to Lake Station Police Chief James Richardson. Officer arrived to a chaotic scene with individuals running and yelling through the yard, Richardson stated. Officers made contact with a female occupant and was advised she just arrived home from work and people were downstairs arguing. The female let officers inside, and as they were entering, they were advised by dispatch that another call was received advising that there was a gunshot victim at that location. Officers located the gunshot victim, a 36 year old male, in the basement who had been shot in the midsection, Richardson stated. Officers then advised dispatch they paramedics were needed. The gunshot victim stated that a male subject who resides at the residence shot him and was upstairs inside the residence. Officers were advised by a female as to which bedroom the male shooter occupies in the residence. Everyone including the gunshot victim was removed from the residence for their safety and officers cleared the residence but were not able to clear the room the shooter was believed to be occupying, Richardson said. The gunshot victim stated that he was there for a cookout and he arrived separately from his ex-wife (33 year old female), however he began arguing with his ex-wife because of her actions throughout the evening and he believed she was doing drugs in addition to drinking. The gunshot victim was transported to a hospital and was admitted for surgery. Officers attempted to contact the shooter inside the residence several times demanding he come out of the bedroom but the door remained closed.
Northwest Regional SWAT was eventually requested due to the uncertainty of the shooter’s mindset. Officers maintained an outer perimeter until SWAT arrived. Once SWAT arrived they took over the scene and began attempting contact with the shooter inside the residence. The house was eventually cleared by SWAT and determined no one was inside the residence, Richardson said. At approximately 7:53 AM Officers were contacted and advised that the shooter (31 year old male) was hiding in the woods and wanted to turn himself in and was not armed. Officers contacted the shooter near the residence on the wood line and successfully took the shooter into custody without incident.
The ex-wife was treated for injuries possibly related to the domestic disturbance at a separate hospital. Officers took many statements and will continue to investigate the incident and present the case to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
At this point, it is believed this incident all stemmed from a domestic disturbance between the gunshot victim and his ex-wife. Both individuals were visitors of the residence. This is and will continue to be an ongoing investigation police said.
