Indiana Police Officer Survives Shotgun Blast

A Cloverdale, Indiana police officer was saved by his ballistic vest after he was shot during a confrontation Saturday afternoon.

Officers responded to a residence in the 4400 block of East County Road 375 South around 4:07 p.m. to follow up on investigative information from an earlier Greencastle retail-store theft when they were at the front door by a man who suddenly discharged a shotgun, according to The Tribune Star.

Officer D. Luke Brown was struck in the chest before he returned fire, hitting the suspect in the torso.

While wounded, the 27-year-old officer performed medical treatment on the suspect until paramedics arrived on the scene.

Officials said that the 48-year-old suspect, identified as Jeffrey R. Hunter , was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment.

Brown, who was wearing his vest when he was shot, was transported to a Terre Haute hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital late Saturday evening.

Indiana State Police detectives and crime scene investigators are currently gathering evidence, along with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department.