Child dies, suspect in custody following overnight standoff in Elkhart
Jul. 7—ELKHART — A child is dead and a suspect is in custody following a standoff in Elkhart which began Saturday evening and went overnight, ending late Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday at approximately 9:06 p.m., the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office responded to the 57000 block of Pendleton Drive to check the welfare of a man and two children, a statement from the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office stated.
"Information was received that indicated the man had made threats to harm the children — deputies attempted to make contact with the man at the residence, however, they were unsuccessful," the release stated. "Further investigation confirmed that the man was in the residence, armed and threatened to harm law enforcement."
At approximately 12:09 a.m. Sunday, the Elkhart County Regional SWAT team responded to assist with securing the scene and to attempt make contact with the man. The man refused to exit and discharged his firearm before barricading himself in the residence, the report reads.
"The Elkhart County Homicide Unit is currently investigating with the assistance of the Indiana State Police due to the death of a minor child," Captain Michael Culp with ECSO said in an email update at 4:53 p.m. Sunday.
Culp had given a 1 p.m. media briefing at the Baugo Township Fire Department, about a mile and a half from the standoff scene, which is on the west side of Elkhart, adding that no injuries had been reported as of that time.
