A 22-year-old Chicago resident has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting a LaPorte County Sheriff's deputy three times inside the emergency department of Franciscan Health Michigan City on Friday morning.
Sharod L.
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Grafton, also identified as Sharod Grafton Jr., faces charges of attempted murder, battery against a public safety official, and auto theft, Indiana State Police announced Saturday.
The incident began around 6:45 a. m.
Friday when Deputy Jonathon Samuelson, a 12-year veteran of the department, stopped to assist Grafton, who was in a disabled vehicle at State Road 2 and 900 West.
Samuelson transported Grafton to the hospital at his request.
However, after learning Grafton was a suspect in prior criminal activity, the deputy returned to speak with him, leading to a physical altercation during which the deputy was shot.
Following an eight-hour surgery at a hospital in South Bend, Samuelson remains in critical but stable condition, according to an update provided Saturday by the LaPorte County Sheriff on behalf of the family.
The weapon used in the shooting has been recovered.
Grafton remains held at the Porter County jail after being transferred from the LaPorte County jail as the investigation continues.
"This officer thought he was helping a stranded motorist and it turns into this," said Indiana State Police Sgt.
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Glen Fifield.
Fifield explained that Samuelson learned of the suspect's alleged illegal behavior shortly after dropping him off at the medical center.
"Deputy was informed of his criminal activity, and that the suspect was a suspect of that or involved in someway and went back to discuss it with him, and that's when this physical altercation took place and resulted in him being shot," said Sgt.
Fifield.
The deputy's father, a retired Michigan City police officer, was working security at the hospital and was on duty when the shooting happened.
"We are asking the community to keep everyone affected in their thoughts and prayers while we work through this situation," said La Porte County Sheriff Ron Heeg.
Following the incident, the hospital emergency department went on ambulance bypass but accepted walk-in patients through the main entrance.
"The health and safety of our patients and staff is always our top priority. There is no active threat to patients, staff or the community at this time.
The emergency department remains on ambulance bypass, but walk-in patients are being accepted through the main entrance to the hospital.
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Franciscan Physician Network medical offices on site are closed at this time. All other services and departments remain open as normal," said Franciscan Health in a statement.
