Hammond, IN – A major overnight police investigation shut down portions of Interstate 80/94 near the Illinois state line early Tuesday following an officer-involved shooting during a traffic stop, according to authorities.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded just after midnight on May 26 to assist Indiana State Police during a traffic stop on eastbound I-80/94 near mile marker 2.4 at Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond.
Officials said shots were fired during the incident, prompting a large police response and the closure of lanes in both directions along the interstate corridor.
Authorities confirmed two Lake County Sheriff’s Department officers involved in the incident were not wounded. The deputies were transported to a local hospital for evaluation and are expected to be medically cleared. Per department policy, both officers will be placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
Indiana State Police is leading the officer-involved shooting investigation. Few details about what led to the shooting have been released as of Tuesday morning, and officials have not announced whether any suspects or civilians were injured.
Traffic disruptions are expected to continue for several hours, with motorists urged to avoid the area near Indianapolis Boulevard and seek alternate routes. The closures are impacting both eastbound and westbound travel near the busy Illinois-Indiana border corridor frequently used by Chicago-area commuters.
Additional information is expected to be released by Indiana State Police later Tuesday as investigators continue processing the scene.
