Newly filed court documents show LaPorte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan has approved multiple felony charges against 22-year-old Sharod L. Grafton of Chicago following Friday morning’s shooting of LaPorte County Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Samuelson at Franciscan Health Michigan City.
According to Indiana State Police, Grafton is now facing the following charges:
• Attempted Murder – Level 1 Felony
• Battery Against a Public Safety Official – Level 5 Felony
• Auto Theft – Level 6 Felony
As previously reported by Region News Source, police investigated a shooting that left a 12-year veteran La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputy wounded Friday morning at Franciscan Health Michigan City, prompting an active shooter response and a heavy police presence around the hospital.
According to information gathered by Region News Source, the incident unfolded near the emergency room after La Porte County Deputy Samuelson reportedly assisted a subject connected to a disabled vehicle by giving him a ride to the hospital while on his way to training. After dropping the subject off, the deputy later learned the individual was allegedly involved in an earlier crime in Chicago and returned to make contact with him. During that encounter, an altercation occurred and the suspect allegedly shot the deputy.
Emergency radio traffic indicated the suspect fled into a wooded area near U.S. 421 and County Road 400 North. Officers broadcast a description of a suspect wearing a green shirt and green jacket who was reportedly armed with a Glock handgun. At one point, authorities announced one person had been detained before later radio traffic indicated, “They got him.”
Law enforcement confirmed the crime scene included the ER lobby and emergency entrance area. Indiana State Police later took over the investigation.
Region News Source previously identified the suspect as Sharod Grafton Jr. and learned the vehicle involved may have allegedly been taken from a family member by force.
Franciscan Health later stated there was no active threat to patients, staff, or the community. The emergency department remained on ambulance bypass for a period of time while walk-in patients continued to be accepted through the hospital’s main entrance. Other hospital services remained operational.
Deputy Samuelson was initially reported in critical but stable condition before being flown to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for further treatment. A team of surgeons and medical staff underwent approximately eight (8) hours of surgery, which surgeons later described as successful. Medical staff remain optimistic regarding his recovery. Deputy Samuelson remains in critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hospital.
“Thank you to the surgeons and the entire medical staff at Memorial Hospital for the exceptional care being provided to Deputy Samuelson,” stated Sheriff Heeg. “Please continue to pray for Jon, his family and friends, and the entire law enforcement community.”
Grafton was transported to the La Porte County Jail and was later transferred to the Porter County Jail because of the relation to the incident involving the Deputy.
This remains an active and developing investigation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
