ISP: Barricaded man suffered 'serious' injuries in officerinvolved shooting
Dec 03, 2024
*EDITOR'S NOTE: The Fort Wayne Police Department issued a correction at 8:12 p.m. saying the barricaded subject had not yet been arrested. We apologize for the error.
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. (WANE) -- A standoff in North Manchester that lasted several hours ended with an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the suspect being taken to a hospital with "serious" injuries.
According to Indiana State Police (ISP), state troopers, the Wabash County Sheriff's Office and the North Manchester Police Department arrived at the scene since approximately 3:30 p.m. A stretch of State Road 13 from Market to East streets has been shut down for hours as a result of the situation.
Nearby, Manchester University implemented a lockdown for hours that required those on campus to "shelter inside." Although the announcement did not specify the barricaded subject, the stretch of State Road 13 that was closed borders the northern end of campus.
An ISP sergeant at the scene told WANE 15 that two people other than the suspect -- later identified as 37-year-old Jacob Slocum -- exited the property during the standoff.
At one point, officers breached the door and shots were fired from inside. WANE 15 also spoke to a woman who lives in a nearby trailer home who said authorities had her evacuate her home for safety reasons.
Eventually, ISP negotiators were able to communicate with Slocum, but attempts to have him leave the home were unsuccessful, and ISP resorted to entering the home.
According to ISP, Slocum fired at officers who then returned fire, resulting in Slocum suffering "serious" injuries. Life-saving measures were "immediately" performed, and a medical helicopter flew him to a hospital. No officers were injured.
The standoff stemmed from an armed robbery that happened Monday at a Meijer in Fort Wayne, according to the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD)
FWPD officers learned Slocum reportedly tried to leave with a shopping cart full of unpaid merchandise. When an off-duty state trooper tried to intervene, Slocum reportedly brandished a gun, "chambered a round" and pointed it at people before leaving the scene.
The FWPD worked with ISP and other law enforcement agencies to locate Slocum at a trailer home in North Manchester, which led to ISP obtaining a warrant that led to Tuesday's standoff.
According to the FWPD, Slocum faces several felony charges:
Carrying a handgun by a serious violent felon - Level 4 felony
Pointing and aiming a firearm - Level 6 felony
Resisting law enforcement while drawing a deadly weapon - Level 6 felony
Criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon - Level 6 felony
Intimidation - Level 6 felony
ISP noted Tuesday's events are still under an active investigation. Once finished, the investigation will be submitted to the Wabash County Prosecutor's Office for review.
The state troopers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure for ISP when an officer-involved shooting occurs.