News Release

KENDALLVILLE — A gunman has passed away following an almost 11-hour standoff with police in Kendallville.

According to an Indiana State Police press release, at roughly 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, the Kendallville Police received a report of shots being fired at an apartment complex on Berry Lane near Drake Road on the south side of town.

Officers from KPD and ISP responded immediately, and upon their arrival an unidentified male suspect began shooting at them from a second story apartment balcony at 645 Berry Lane. There was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the officers. The suspect retreated into the apartment and continued firing multiple rounds at officers.

Numerous officers from multiple agencies continued responding to the scene and were met with gunfire. SWAT personnel and armored vehicle assets from the ISP, Auburn Police Department, Allen County Police Department, Fort Wayne Police Department, along with FWPD’s Air Support Unit, responded to the scene.

Once armored vehicles were on scene, officers were able to begin evacuating the adjoining apartments and the neighboring apartment buildings.

During the standoff, attempts to establish a line of communication with the suspect were unsuccessful, and the suspect never responded to officers’ loudspeaker announcements and commands.

At approximately 6:05 a.m. nearly 11 hours after the incident began, SWAT officers made entry into the apartment. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

He was found suffering from an injury, but the extent of injury was not known. He was immediately attended to by on-scene paramedics; however, all life-saving measures were unsuccessful. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His identity hasn’t been released at this time.

Also assisting at the scene were the Noble County Sheriff’s Department, Avilla Police Department, Ligonier Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Parkview EMS personnel and the Noble County Prosecutor’s Office.