KENTLAND, Ind. — A man from Gary being taken from one jail to another Wednesday in northern Indiana escaped and ended up being shot by police.
Jayme Lopez, 36, was being moved Wednesday from Iroquois County Jail in Illinois to Newton County Jail in Indiana, according to the Indiana State Police.
“Lopez was being extradited on an active warrant out of Newton County,” said ISP Sgt. Jeremy Piers. “Upon arrival at the Newton County Jail, just after 10:30 a.m., Lopez escaped from the transport vehicle.”
According to police, officers from around the area responded quickly and set up a perimeter to begin searching for Lopez.
Two and a half hours later, troopers with ISP located Lopez at an apartment at 707 E. Lincoln St. in Kentland. Police first safely evacuated the apartment building of other people and set up a perimeter.
“Lopez obtained a firearm at some point after he escaped and made entry into an apartment,” Piers added.
Jasper County SWAT officers eventually surrounded the building Lopez as inside of and began trying to talk him out. He fired multiple shots from inside the apartment toward officers. One of the squad officers returned fire, wounding Lopez. He then surrendered to officers who immediately gave medical aid to Lopez.
A helicopter later took Lopez to a South Bend area hospital. Lopez’s condition was unknown, police say.
Police also did not say how Lopez managed to escape from the transport vehicle.
