Armed man walking with child along SE Indiana highway shoots at deputy: State police

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ind. (WXIX) - An officer-involved shooting is under investigation in southeastern Indiana, state police say.

A Franklin County Deputy and a suspect both were shot during an incident early Friday on IN-1 and US-52 in Brookville Township.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department received a report around 12:30 a.m. of a man walking along a state highway holding a “very small child,” according to Sgt. Stephen Wheeles.

State police said the temperature at the time was near zero with wind chill values making it feel much colder.

Sgt. Wheeles said he believes the child was under the age of 2.

After a brief conversation, the man shot the deputy and the deputy fired back, Wheeles said.

The deputy was protected by his body armor and suffered non-life-threatening injuries; the male suspect was transported to UC Medical Center, Wheeles explained.

The child suffered injuries from the cold weather and was taken to the hospital as well.

Later in the morning, deputies were dispatched to Colonial Heights Drive where they found a woman with an apparent gunshot wound, state police said. She also was taken to a hospital.

Wheeles says he thinks there is some connection between the two shootings but it is unknown if the man and woman knew each other.

The condition of the two injured people is unknown at this time, state police said around 4:45 p.m. Friday.

The child was handed over to the Indiana Department of Child Services to receive additional care.

The deputy will be placed on administrative leave per normal protocol, ISP explained.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please include the title when you click here to report it.

Copyright 2022 WXIX. All rights reserved.