Indiana state trooper wounded, suspect killed in I-65 shootout

CROWN POINT, Ind. - Indiana authorities are searching for a person believed to have been involved in an armed robbery Friday that left a state trooper wounded and a suspect in the robbery dead in a shootout on a highway near Crown Point, Indiana.

About 10:15 p.m., a 23-year-old man stolen a black Mitsubishi at gunpoint while it was parked at a Pilot truck stop along Interstate 65 in Remington, Indiana, according to a statement from Indiana State Police.

Two state troopers searching for the car spotted it near Crown Point and pursued the Mitsubishi until it slowed because of a flat tire, at which point the driver got out and “immediately began to fire a weapon at the troopers, striking one of them,” state police said.

The troopers returned fire, killing 23-year-old Caine Van Pelt of Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, police and the Lake County coroner’s office said.

The wounded state trooper was taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Crown Point with a gunshot wound to his leg that was not believed to be life threatening, according to state police.

On Saturday, State police said they were still looking for second suspect in the robbery after surveillance footage showed a Toyota Corolla enter the truck stop with the hazard lights activated and park next to the Mitsubishi that was later stolen.

Police said the Toyota, which was driven by a male, left at the same time as the Mitsubishi and was later found abandoned on I-65.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lafayette State police post at 765-567-2125.

The shooting remains under investigation, state police said.