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Standoff in northern Indiana ends after 18 hours with suspect arrested, 2-year-old boy found dead

Police said they found a deceased 2-year-old boy after taking the suspect into custody Sunday afternoon.

ELKHART, Ind. — A 37-year-old northern Indiana man is in police custody following an 18-hour standoff.

According to a release from Indiana State Police, shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, Elkhart County sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 57000 block of Pendleton Drive in Elkhart for a welfare check. 

When deputies arrived at the scene, they were initially unable to make contact with anyone inside, but later learned there was a man inside the home who was armed and threatening to harm his children, as well as officers. 

Later, shortly after midnight on July 7, the Elkhart County SWAT team responded to secure the scene and attempted to make contact with the man inside. According to police, the man refused to exit the home and fired a shot before barricading himself inside. 

The Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team took over later that morning.

Police reportedly made several attempts throughout the morning and afternoon to make contact with the man inside the home, but were unsuccessful. Finally, around 3:30 p.m., ISP's Emergency Response Team was able to breach the home and locate the man inside.

Credit: WNDU
A standoff in Elkhart in the 57000 block of Pendleton Drive ended after 18 hours with the suspect being taken into custody on July 7, 2024.

After taking the 37-year-old suspect into custody, police found a 2-year-old boy dead inside. Police also found a 4-year-old girl, but she was reportedly treated and released to a relative at the scene. 

The suspect was taken to a local hospital before being booked at the Elkhart County Jail. 

(NOTE: 13News has a policy not to name suspects until formal charges are filed by a prosecutor.)

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