VALPARAISO- – The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division at the Lowell Post has completed its interviews of the officers involved in the shooting that took place in Valparaiso on April 25, 2024.
The Indiana State Police can release the following information about the incident.
On Thursday, April 25, 2024, at approximately 2:04 p.m., the Valparaiso Police Department and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area of Fairgrounds Park to investigate a report of a male subject displaying a handgun.
Officers located a male who matched the description given out by the dispatchers near Butterfield Pavilion, which is in Fairgrounds Park. As officers engaged with the suspect, the suspect ran west toward Calumet Avenue. The suspect shot several times at the officers and a police vehicle. Officers returned fire as they continued to pursue the suspect.
The foot pursuit continued west through an alley to Valparaiso Street, where the suspect ran onto the porch of a house and again raised his handgun at the officers. Officers fired their weapons at the suspect, striking him and incapacitating him.
Officers handcuffed the suspect and rendered first aid until paramedics arrived on the scene. Paramedics transported the suspect to Northwest Health Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased by the Porter County Coroner.
The name of the suspect has not been released.
Two Porter County Sheriff’s Officers were actively involved in the incident and are identified as Patrol Commander Lieutenant Jason Praschak and Patrol Officer Aaron Estrada. Lt. Praschak is an 18-year veteran, and Officer Estrada is a three-year veteran. Both were placed on paid administrative leave, as is typical with any officer-involved deadly force incident.
“In addition to the Indiana State Police, I would like thank the Valparaiso Police Department, Porter County Coroner’s Office, Porter County Prosecutor’s Office and Valparaiso Fire Department for their assistance. Officer-involved shootings are very complex and need to be investigated thoroughly; I would like to thank the public for their patience and support while this incident is being investigated,” said Porter County Sheriff Jeffrey A. Balon.
The Valparaiso Police officers who fired their weapons are Captain Brian McDonald, a 31-year veteran; Lieutenant Jon Watson, an eight-year veteran; and Patrol Officer Steven Augustine, a three-year veteran. Per department policy, the three officers will remain on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.
“The Valparaiso Police Department would like to thank the Indiana State Police, Porter County Sheriff’s Department, the Porter County Coroner’s Office, the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Valparaiso Fire Department for their assistance in this matter,” said Chief Andrew McIntyre. “VPD would also like to thank our community for the outpouring of support for our officers during this time. I am grateful for the quick and heroic efforts of the first responders on Thursday, as their actions were brave and prevented additional threat of harm in our community. I am beyond proud of these officers and our entire community during these challenging times.”
Once the investigation is completed, the Porter County Prosecutor will review all information obtained.
