Deputy Shot in Indiana Hospital

An Indiana sheriff’s deputy was shot three times in a hospital emergency room on Friday morning by a stranded motorist he had stopped to assist, according to authorities. The incident is being investigated for possible connections to an earlier crime.

LaPorte County Sheriff’s Deputy John Samuelson, with 12 years of service, has been airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital and is currently in critical condition. The alleged shooter, Sharrod Grafton Jr., was apprehended in nearby woods shortly after the incident.

Reports indicate that Samuelson, 33, was on his way to a training session around 6:45 a.m. when he stopped to help Grafton, who was stranded on State Route 2. Following Grafton’s request, the deputy transported him to Francisco Hospital in Michigan City.

Upon their arrival at the hospital, it was revealed that Grafton might be linked to a previous criminal event. Indiana State Police Sergeant Glenn Fifield shared that an altercation occurred between Grafton and Samuelson in the emergency room, where Grafton allegedly produced a firearm and shot the deputy.

Details about the previous crimes that Grafton may have committed were not disclosed by authorities. After the shooting, Grafton fled to a wooded area but was quickly caught by law enforcement, with a handgun believed to be his discovered at the scene.

Fifield characterized the shooting as senseless, expressing frustration over the risks officers face daily. He noted that Samuelson was merely trying to assist someone when tragedy struck. Samuelson, who is married but has no children, comes from a family with a strong law enforcement background; his grandfather is police chief in LaPorte, and his father was a former police officer in Michigan City.

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office labeled the shooting an “isolated incident,” assuring the community that there is no ongoing threat. Indiana State Police have taken the lead on the investigation.

Grafton is currently being held at the Porter County Jail, with charges pending against him. LaPorte County Sheriff Ronald Heag has called for the community to support Samuelson and his family during this difficult time.

Franciscan Health has released a statement prioritizing patient safety, noting an ambulance bypass in the emergency department while still accepting walk-in patients. The on-site Franciscan Physician Network clinic is closed, but other hospital services remain operational.