Indiana Deputy Shot Three Times in ER After Helping Motorist
A La Porte County sheriff’s deputy was shot three times inside a hospital emergency room Friday morning after stopping to help a stranded motorist who later opened fire, according to Indiana State Police. Deputy Jon Samuelson, 33, a 12-year veteran and K9 handler, remains in critical condition at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
The Incident
Around 6:45 a.m. CT on May 22, Samuelson was driving to a training session when he spotted a disabled vehicle on State Road 2 near Westville, Indiana. The driver, identified as Sharod Grafton Jr., 22, of Chicago, asked the deputy for a ride to Franciscan Health Michigan City, and Samuelson obliged, according to WNDU.
Once at the hospital, Samuelson learned that Grafton may have been involved in an earlier criminal incident in Illinois. An altercation broke out in the emergency room, during which Grafton produced a handgun and shot the deputy three times.
“This is a senseless shooting that didn’t have to take place,” Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield said during a press conference, as reported by WISH-TV. “This officer thought he was helping a stranded motorist and it turned into this.”
Swift Arrest
After the shooting, Grafton fled through the hospital parking lot into a nearby wooded area. Responding officers quickly located him and took him into custody. Police also recovered a handgun believed to have been used in the shooting. Grafton is being held at the Porter County Jail pending charges from the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Samuelson was airlifted by helicopter to South Bend Memorial Hospital around 10 a.m. and remained in critical condition as of Friday evening, WSBT reported. No other staff or visitors were injured.
A Family of Law Enforcement
Samuelson comes from a long lineage of law enforcement. His great-grandfather is honored on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. His grandfather served as chief of police for the City of La Porte, and his father is a retired Michigan City police officer who now works security at Franciscan Health — the very hospital where the shooting occurred. His father was working at the hospital at the time of the attack.
La Porte County Sheriff Ronald Heeg called for community support in a statement: “La Porte County friends and neighbors, we are asking for our community to rise up, rally together, and lift Deputy Jon Samuelson and his family in prayer and support during this incredibly challenging time.”
Hospital Security Concerns
The shooting inside a hospital emergency department has raised significant concerns about security protocols in healthcare facilities. Franciscan Health said its emergency department remained on ambulance bypass, though walk-in patients were being accepted through the main entrance. Medical offices on site were closed, but other services remained open.
“The health and safety of our patients and staff is always our top priority. There is no active threat to patients, staff or the community at this time,” Franciscan Health said in a statement.
Investigation and Aftermath
The Indiana State Police are leading the investigation. Authorities have not disclosed the specific nature of the prior criminal incident Grafton may have been involved in, nor have they released details about a possible motive. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the South Bend Police Department and St. Joseph County, have provided assistance and additional security at Memorial Hospital.
Samuelson, who is married with no children, serves as a K9 handler with his partner Bosco. In 2024, he made local news for saving Bosco’s life when the dog suffered a heat stroke during a search operation.
What’s Next
Charges against Grafton are expected to be filed by the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office in the coming days. The community continues to rally around Deputy Samuelson and his family as he remains hospitalized in critical condition. The incident has also reignited discussions about hospital security and the unpredictable dangers law enforcement officers face, even when performing acts of goodwill.