Three people were killed, including the shooter, and two police officers were injured in a shooting at a supermarket in Indiana Monday evening, local police say.
Police received a call at 5:30 p.m. 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 Bend.
Officers arrived at the scene and found two victims dead inside.
“Both of these individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene,” Elkhart Police said in a news release.
Police said officers engaged the shooting suspect nearby outside the store and two officers were shot. In the exchange of gunfire the shooting suspect was shot and killed.
Both officers were transported to local hospitals for evaluation. One was treated and released from the hospital and the other remains hospitalized in a “fair but stable condition” as of Monday evening.
Police said there is believed be no further danger to the public.
The names of the suspect, victims and involved officers were not disclosed, pending family notification.
Authorities did not say what might have motivated the shooting. The Elkhart County Homicide Unit is handling the investigation and is asking for witnesses to contact the unit at 574-295-2825.
Erin Swary, a pregnant mother, told local news station WNDU she was in the store checking out when she heard shots.
“Then we heard 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 there were six to eight more shots, just one right after another”
“So, I was just down on the ground, just frozen. Obviously I didn’t want to run when there were still gunshots going, but all I could think while I was down there was of my kids. And, if he came around that corner, I thought would probably gone or shot as well,” she added.
Elkhart Police Department Chief Dan Milanese called the shooting a “horrific situation.”
“Words cannot express the pain felt in our community when a tragic incident like this happens. This pain is especially felt by the victim’s families, the responding officers, the families of the wounded officers, and all the witnesses to this tragic incident,” he said. “I want to thank our local law enforcement partners, including the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police, for their support and assistance during this time. I ask for the community to continue to keep all those effected by this horrific event in your thoughts and prayers.”
Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson said in a statement: “Our hearts are broken in Elkhart tonight. Please continue to pray for the victims including our two police officers who were wounded, our heroic first responders, and those at the incident.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun wrote on X Monday evening: “As details emerge about the shooting in Elkhart, we are in communication with state and local law enforcement. Maureen and I are praying for the victims and their families.”
