Details Released From Shooting In Gary Injuring An Officer
On Monday, February 7, 2022, at approximately 12:55 PM, Detective Sergeant William Fazekas was in the area of 4th Ave and Johnson Street, Gary, Indiana, when he observed a vehicle drive recklessly towards a third unknown party that was on 4th Ave. Sgt. Fazekas followed the vehicle to see the intentions of the driver and that is when the vehicle came to a stop in the 400 block of Johnson Street in Gary, according to Commander Jack Hamady.
Sgt. Fazekas in a Gary Police Department police vehicle activated his lights and began to exit the vehicle to investigate. As Sgt Fazekas exited the police vehicle, is when he was ambushed by a barrage of gunfire. Sgt Fazekas took cover inside the vehicle, but unfortunately was struck by gun fire in his shoulder. This individual continued to fire upon Sgt Fazekas and later fled the area on foot.
Officers that were in the area heard the gunfire and began to investigate, that is when they discovered that the gunfire was involving Sgt Fazekas and the driver of the vehicle. One of the officers pursued after the suspect who was on foot. This individual was later located and arrested in an abandon home nearby.
The other officer on scene immediately rendered aid to Sgt. Fazekas who was bleeding out. While other officers arrived on scene that officer placed Sgt Fazekas into the police vehicle for immediate transport to the hospital (Methodist Northlake) for treatment. He was later transported to chicago for further treatment.
The Gary Police K-9 “Rocki” was deployed where the suspect was last seen (400 block of Lincoln) and tracked the suspect into an abandon building where he was taken into custody without incident. Two guns were found near the suspect, one of which is an AK style pistol.
His identity will be released by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department after formal charges are presented to the Lake County Prosecutors Office.
At the time of the incident, it was unclear if there were any other suspects at large. A perimeter search was contained to the area for the safety of the officers and all the citizens in that area. As the investigation continued with statements and video downloads it was determined that there was one subject that engaged in the gunfire with Sgt Fazekas and that individual was in custody.
“As of this morning Gary Police Sergeant Fazekas is still in stable condition and expected to undergo surgery today to repair his shoulder,” Gary Police said Tuesday morning.
Gary Police thanked all the men and women from the Gary Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Department and all the neighboring local and federal agencies who responded to the scene to assist. The Gary Fire Department, the medical staff at Methodist Northlake Hospital and University of Chicago for all the medical treatment to Sgt Fazekas.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is going to be lead investigating Agency on this incident, due to the officers from the Gary Police Department being involved. The Gary Police Department does not investigate their own officer involved shootings and requests the outside agency to do so, Hamady said.
“Chief Brian Evans would also like to thank all the outside agencies that responded quickly from Lake County and Porter County as well as all the federal agencies. Their assistance and the assistance from the community helped a tragic incident be resolved quickly and get the person responsible in custody without incident”.
This is an ongoing investigation at this time.
