Chesterton Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Alleged Domestic Shooting
A 37-year-old Chesterton man, Ian Patrick Toole, is facing multiple felony charges after an alleged domestic incident that left his girlfriend with a gunshot wound to the head, according to court documents filed in Porter County.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Chesterton Police were dispatched at approximately 2:33 a.m. on December 27, 2025, to a residence on South 18th Street in Chesterton after receiving reports of a woman on a front porch covered in blood and screaming for help. Officers located a female victim who was visibly bleeding from the head, appeared disoriented, and showed obvious signs of significant trauma.
The victim identified Toole, her boyfriend, as the person who shot her inside their shared apartment during an altercation. Medical personnel observed what appeared to be a bullet fragment lodged in the victim’s hair, with a wound located on the top left portion of her head. She was transported by ambulance to a South Bend hospital for emergency treatment.
Police established a secure perimeter around 119 South 18th Street, Apartment A, after learning Toole remained inside the residence and was believed to be armed. The Porter County Emergency Response Team was requested to assist. Officers attempted to make contact using sirens, loudspeaker announcements, drones, and robotic equipment. One drone was intentionally destroyed while inside the residence. After OC gas was deployed into the upstairs portion of the apartment, Toole surrendered at approximately 6:50 a.m. and was taken into custody without further incident.
Investigators allege a gathering had taken place at the apartment earlier in the evening, during which a large amount of alcohol was consumed. Witnesses reported hearing a heated verbal argument between Toole and the victim regarding accusations of infidelity, followed by loud crashing noises and what sounded like multiple gunshots. Several witnesses fled the residence but did not witness the actual shooting.
During a search of the apartment, detectives located a .380 caliber handgun on the living room floor near the front door, along with three spent .380 caliber shell casings and three live .380 rounds. Two bullet holes were located in the drywall near the front door. A cellphone believed to belong to the victim was found on the floor with damage consistent with a bullet passing through it. Investigators believe the victim was holding the cellphone and raised her hands defensively when the firearm was discharged, causing the bullet to pass through the phone and into her skull.
The affidavit states the victim later told detectives that after returning home from celebrating Toole’s birthday at a bar, she confronted him about a text message from another woman. She reported Toole became enraged and struck her multiple times in the face and head, threw her to the floor, and applied pressure to her neck, choking her to the point she could not breathe. Officers and medical staff observed injuries consistent with her account, including facial bruising, redness to the neck and throat, abrasions to her forearm, and bruising to both legs.
The victim stated she attempted to flee toward the front door to escape the residence when she was shot. She further reported Toole attempted to place the handgun into her right hand, which she believed was an attempt to stage the scene to make it appear she had shot herself. She stated she pushed the firearm away and fled to a neighboring apartment to seek help.
Medical personnel confirmed the victim sustained a gunshot wound to the top left portion of her skull resulting in a skull fracture. A bullet fragment and metallic debris consistent with cellphone components were recovered from her skull, and eight staples were required to close the wound.
Detectives later interviewed Toole after advising him of his Miranda rights. Toole admitted consuming a large amount of alcohol, estimating he drank at least twenty beers and multiple shots. He acknowledged an argument and physical confrontation occurred but claimed he did not remember the shooting. When confronted with the victim’s statements and physical evidence, Toole stated he did not recall the events but said the victim was truthful and that if she reported the events occurred, then they occurred.
Lodged in the Porter County Jail.
Charges filed December 29,2025:
• Attempted Murder — Level 1 Felony
• Aggravated Battery — Level 3 Felony
• Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury While Armed With a Deadly Weapon — Level 5 Felony
• Strangulation — Level 6 Felony
