Suspect dead who fired at law enforcement in Randolph County during SWAT standoff

LYNN, Indiana — UPDATE @ 8:11 p.m.:

The suspect involved in a SWAT standoff on West Church Street Friday night has died.

John Resetar, 44, is dead after remaining in critical condition for two days, according to the Indiana State Police.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of Resetar’s death.

We will update with any new information.

INITIAL REPORT 12/20:

Three law enforcement officers were injured by shrapnel and a 44-year-old gunman was shot during an hours long standoff Friday following a dispute between the man and his wife.

SWAT officers around 8 p.m. found the suspect, identified as John Resetar, unconscious downstairs in the home in the 800 block of West Church Street. They rendered first aid before he was taken to Reid Health Hospital in Richmond, then to a hospital in Indianapolis where on Saturday he remained in critical condition, according to an Indiana State Police release.

Police said Resetar fired a rifle at a Randolph County deputy, the Lynn marshal and deputy marshal around 3 p.m. as they spoke outside with Resetar’s wife.

The officers retreated, but one was hit with shrapnel from a rifle round.

“I heard quite a few gunshots, several rounds of shots being fired and it’s just very scary, very scary,” neighborhood resident Bonnie Hobbs said.

As officers from surrounding agencies arrived, the suspect continued firing, with officers returning fire.

Two other officers were hit with shrapnel from rifle rounds fired by the suspect, who also fired several rounds into a police vehicles outside his home, police said.

Around 4:15 p.m. the suspect stopped firing.

SWAT officers entered his home around 8 p.m. after not having contact with him.

The ISP said investigators worked throughout the night to gather facts and evidence.

Inside the two-story house, officers found numerous firearms and several rounds of ammunition.

The three officers hit by shrapnel from the rifle rounds were from the Lynn Police Department, Farmland Police Department and Randolph County Sheriff’s Department. All their injuries were minor.