Wounded Ind. Deputy Regains Sensation, Movement During Rehab

LaPorte County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Samuelson is showing encouraging signs of recovery after being shot multiple times in May, with increased sensation in his legs and movement returning to the fingers of his left hand.

By Bob Kasarda

Source The Times, Munster, Ind.

July 7, 2026

2 min read

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LaPorte County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Samuelson is making progress in rehabilitation after being shot multiple times in May, with fellow officers reporting increased sensation in his legs and movement in the fingers of his left hand.
Samuelson recently left his Chicago rehabilitation facility for a lunch outing and remains highly motivated during recovery from injuries that included a bullet lodging in his spine.
Police say Samuelson was shot by a suspected armed carjacker he had given a courtesy ride to a hospital before attempting to arrest him after learning he was wanted in connection with a vehicle theft.

LaPorte County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Samuelson, who was critically wounded while attempting to arrest a suspected armed carjacker at a hospital, continues intensive rehabilitation and recently left the facility for a lunch outing.

The 33-year-old LaPorte County Sheriff's Department officer, shot numerous times May 22 while at Franciscan Health Michigan City hospital, is experiencing more sensation in his legs and movement in the fingers on his left hand as therapy continues, according to an update provided by fellow officers.

Members of the Brotherhood of Christian Law Enforcement Officers were excited to announce that Deputy Jon Samuelson took them to lunch Sunday during a visit.

"At noon we checked out and headed to a local lunch spot and thoroughly enjoyed each others company and a fantastic lunch," the group said.

"Jon shared with me that he’d been talking with a guy during therapy; the guy said he’d been told he’d not walk again," the fellow officers reported in a social media post. "Jon said that the guy was saying this was walking! The kid remains highly motivated!! Just check out his smile!"

Samuelson, a third-generation police officer, was reportedly transferred from Memorial Hospital in South Bend to an intensive inpatient rehabilitation facility in Chicago just weeks after the shooting.

Police say Samuelson was shot during the early morning hours of May 22 at Franciscan Health Michigan City hospital by 22-year-old Sharod Grafton of Chicago after giving Grafton a courtesy ride to the hospital.

After Samuelson learned Grafton was suspected of stealing a vehicle earlier that morning at gunpoint in Chicago, Samuelson went to arrest him and was shot three times: once in the shoulder, once grazing his right calf and once in the neck.

Court records show Samuelson may face long-term injuries from the shooting after it was discovered a bullet was lodged in his spine. Samuelson underwent an eight-hour surgery and had been in an intensive care unit until his transfer to Chicago, according to his department.

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