Police: Suspect in custody had ambushed, shot Gary officer

GARY, Ind. (AP) — A suspect who's in custody allegedly ambushed and shot a veteran Gary police officer Monday as the officer was investigating a vehicle that was driving recklessly, police said Tuesday.

Sgt. William Fazekas, a 32-year member of the Gary Police Department, remained hospitalized in stable condition Tuesday with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. He was expected to undergo surgery later Tuesday on his shoulder, a Gary police spokeswoman said.

Gary police Cmdr. Jack Hamady said Tuesday in a statement that Fazekas saw a vehicle driving recklessly in Gary on Tuesday afternoon and followed. When the vehicle came to a stop, the officer activated his lights and exited his vehicle to investigate “when he was ambushed by a barrage of gunfire."

Fazekas took cover inside his vehicle, but he was struck by gunfire, allegedly fired by the driver of the suspect vehicle. That person continued firing at Fazekas before fleeing on foot, Hamady said.

The suspect was arrested later Monday in a nearby abandoned home.

Hamady said police were initially uncertain whether any additional suspects were at large, but those investigators later determined “there was one subject that engaged in the gunfire with Sgt. Fazekas and that individual was in custody."

The suspect's name has not been released by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the shooting investigation. Hamady said the suspect's name would be disclosed after formal charges are filed by Lake County prosecutors.

Original post Feb. 7

GARY, Ind. (AP) — A Gary police officer was shot and wounded Monday while responding to reports of gunshots fired in the northwest Indiana city, police said.

Sgt. William Fazekas was listed in stable condition at a hospital, according to Gary Police Public Information Officer Lt. Dawn Westerfield.

The 32-year veteran of the Gary Police Department was shot about 1 p.m. CST while responding to a call about active shots fired, Westerfield said.

“The situation is ongoing, and further information will be released as it becomes available,” she said.

A manhunt was underway in Gary on Monday afternoon for the suspect. Gary police were being assisted in the search by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit, as well as the Special Operations and patrol units.

Fazekas is assigned to the Gary Police Department's Violent Crimes Division.

This story has been updated.