A La Porte County Sheriff’s deputy who was shot yesterday inside a hospital in Michigan City remains in critical but stable condition.
Deputy Jon Samuelson was in surgery for about eight hours, according to Sheriff Ron Heeg.
He said, in a statement, the surgery was “successful,” and that “medical staff remain optimistic regarding his recovery.”
It was around 7 a.m. on Friday when the deputy encountered 22-year-old Sharod Grafton, Jr. of Chicago, with a disabled vehicle.
Grafton asked for a ride to the hospital. Why is unclear.
The Deputy dropped him off and left and then returned a short time later, after learning Grafton may have been involved in an earlier crime, according to Sergeant Glen Fifield, with the Indiana State Police.
Its alleged that Grafton shot him three times.
“This is a senseless shooting that didn’t have to take place,” Fifield said while speaking to members of the press. “This officer thought he helping a stranded motorist and it turns into this.”
Fifield said its unknown whether Samuelson patted Grafton down before giving him a ride.
Grafton was arrested in a wooded area adjacent to the hospital soon after the shooting.
Fifield said a gun was recovered.
