A man barricaded in a Valparaiso real estate office for most of the day Friday was transported to a local hospital after he shot himself twice in the head, according to Valparaiso Police Chief Michael Brickner. A SWAT team entered the building near the end of the incident.
Valparaiso police responded about 10:05 a.m. Friday to 2612 Calumet for a report of a male subject entering the building with a gun. Officers arrived on scene and a brief exchange of gun fire occurred between the gunman and police. The gunman was inside the building until shortly before 5:00 p.m. when he shot himself twice in the head. All hostages were believed to be out of the building before the gunman shot himself.
None of the recently released hostages were injured. One employee initially exited the building with a head injury recieved from the gunman, not a gun shot. She was transported to Porter Hospital and has since been treated and released.
The gunman was apparently looking for a man that owed him money related to a real estate transaction.
Law enforcement agencies from Valparaiso, Portage, Porter County Sheriff’s Department, FBI, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso Fire/EMS, Chesterton and Indiana State Police are on scene.
Valparaiso police asked citizens to stay out of the area. Calumet Ave at the five point intersection was completely closed to all traffic. The five point intersection includes Vale Park Rd, Roosevelt Rd, and Calumet Ave.
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