Listen Live

GARY, Ind. — Two police officers in Gary shot in a standoff with a murder suspect Monday evening. 

Gary police Lt. Dawn Westerfield said SWAT officers tried to negotiate with the suspect, who they believed was connected to a woman’s murder in Merrillville. The suspect, Keenan McCain, 29, barricaded himself inside an apartment.

“After two hours of unsuccessful negotiations the decision was made to make entry into the residence,” Westerfield said. “During the entry, two Gary police department officers, Cpl. James Nielsen and Cpl. John Artibey were both shot.”

Nielsen took bullets to the chest and forearm. Westerfield said a bulletproof vest stopped the shot to his chest. She added that Artibey “took shrapnel to both the abdomen and the chin.”

Both officers were taken back behind the police perimeter to safety and eventually to the hospital. In the meantime, McCain was shot and killed when SWAT officers returned fire. Both officers are stable at the hospital.

McCain had been wanted in the murder of Betty Claudio, 45. She was found murdered at a hotel in nearby Merrillville. Lake County sheriff’s deputies are investigating that case and expect to hold a press conference at 9:00 a.m.

(PHOTO: aijohn784/Thinkstock)