MISHAWAKA, Ind. (ADAMS) – A 20-year-old man has been arrested by Indiana State Police for allegedly shooting at an Indiana State Excise Officer in South Bend.
Ian Austin of South Bend was arrested around 7 p.m. last night at the Hickory Village apartments in Mishawaka.
He will be charged with attempted murder in the September 29 shooting near the intersection of Rockne Drive and North Jacob Street.
Indiana State Police released the following:
On September 29, 2022, the Indiana State Police began an investigation that started with shots being fired at an Indiana State Excise Officer near the interaction of Rockne Drive and North Jacob Street in South Bend, IN. Investigators continued to follow up on leads and gather evidence on this investigation nonstop since the incident. This effort culminated in a warrant being served by the Indiana State Police E.R.T. at 4540 Hickory Road Apartment 3C in Mishawaka, IN at approximately 7:12 p.m. this evening, October 4, 2022. As a result of this warrant, Ian Steven McDonald Austin, 20 of South Bend, IN was arrested for Attempted Murder. Austin was transported to the St. Joseph County Jail.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the South Bend Police Department and St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.
The original release appears below.
**All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
South Bend- The Indiana State Excise Police has requested that the Indiana State Police investigate an officer-involved shooting that took place in South Bend, IN at approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 29, 2022.
The Indiana State Excise Officer had been in the area working a special detail around local convenience stores when he began to follow a silver vehicle that is believed to be an early 2000’s or late 90’s Honda Civic northeast on Rockne Drive.
Near the intersection of Rockne Drive and North Jacob Street the driver of the suspect vehicle stopped in the street, exited his vehicle, and began to fire multiple shots at the front of the vehicle being driven by the Indiana State Excise Officer. The officer returned fire as the suspect briefly fled on foot before returning to his vehicle and speeding off. The Indiana State Excise Officer did not chase the suspect vehicle. It is unknown if the suspect was struck in the exchange of gunfire. The Indiana State Excise Officer was not injured in the shooting.
The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone that may have information on this shooting is asked to the call the Indiana State Police Bremen Post at 574-546-4900.
At the conclusion of this investigation, all information will be turned over to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office for review. There is no other information to release currently.
