UPDATE:
Elkhart police say one of the dead men is the suspected shooter. Elkhart County Homicide Unit Cmdr. Mark Daggy identified the dead victims as 66-year-old Gail Shields, her boyfriend, John Malk, along with the suspected shooter, 76-year-old Lawrence Faco. The wounded woman wasn't identified.
NEW:
Elkhart Police just released new information on the shooting that killed 3 people and injured a fourth at the Stratford Commons .
Police say one of the men who died is believed to be the suspect. As a result, police believe there is no longer a threat posed from the situation. Police arrived at the scene finding one victim who survived.
It was only after doing a systemic search of the apartment building that they found the other three victims dead.
Read the entire release here:
On 7-31-19 at approximately 9:04 am Officers were dispatched to 2601 Oakland Ave in reference to a
Shooting that had occurred.
Officers arrived on scene and located a female victim with a gunshot wound to the chest.
The female was transported to Elkhart General Hospital where she is currently seeking treatment for serious injuries.
Officers immediately secured the building and surrounding area and started a search for the suspect.
During this time the Elkhart County Swat Team was called to assist with the search for the suspect. During a systematic search of the building officers located three additional victims, two males and one female, all of which had injuries caused by gun shots and were deceased. At this time we believe one of the deceased males to be the suspect in the other shootings.
Officers continued their systematic search, during which time no additional victims were located. At
this time the area is safe and there is no longer any threat as a result of this incident.
The Elkhart Police Department would like to thank surrounding law enforcement agencies for the
assistance during this investigation. We would also thank the residents and their families for their cooperation
and understanding during this incident. The Elkhart County Homicide Unit will be conducting the investigation and will release any further information.
Mayor Neese provided the following statement.
“Three individuals lost their lives today in a tragedy that should have been avoided,” said Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese. “While we may not know what prompted this incident, we can say that violence is
never the answer. This behavior devastates families, and takes a toll on any community. It also weighs
heavily on the hearts and minds of our first responders.
“I want to commend the Elkhart Police Department for their swift and professional response. They
dedicated the entire dayshift to securing the perimeter and searching the complex to ensure the safety
and security of residents and the surrounding area. I also want to commend the Elkhart Fire Department and the staff at Elkhart General Hospital for providing critical medical attention.”
ORIGINAL POST:
Elkhart police confirm that three people are dead following a shooting at Stratford Commons Apartments in Elkhart on Oakland Avenue.
Officers were called out around 9am. Of the victims who are confirmed dead, one is a woman and two are men. Another woman is being treated at Elkhart General Hospital. Names of the dead and wounded have not been released.
Elkhart police say approximately 100 officers from multiple agencies responded to the crime scene.
No suspect or arrest information is available. Elkhart police say the investigation is ongoing.