Joseph Gerber Obituary, Death – Authorities have released the identity of a man who died following a shootout with police in Chesterton, Indiana, on Wednesday morning. The Porter County Coroner’s Office confirmed the deceased as 45-year-old Joseph Gerber, a resident of Winamac.
According to the coroner’s report, Gerber died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He also sustained multiple other gunshot injuries during the exchange of gunfire with police. The confrontation occurred shortly after 8 a.m. near the intersection of Gateway Boulevard and Matson Drive, directly across from a Hilton Garden Inn located near the expressway.
The situation began when employees at the nearby hotel noticed a man behaving suspiciously and contacted local authorities. Upon arriving at the scene, Chesterton police officers encountered Gerber. The situation quickly escalated into an armed confrontation, resulting in both the suspect and a police officer being shot.
Police say that Gerber opened fire during the confrontation, prompting officers to return fire. Amid the exchange, one officer was struck and wounded. He was promptly transported to a hospital in Illinois for treatment. Thankfully, the second officer who was on the scene remained uninjured during the incident.
Indiana State Police have taken over the investigation and are working to determine the full circumstances that led to the shootout. Investigators are reviewing why police were initially called and what events unfolded once officers arrived.
Sgt. Glen Fifeld of the Indiana State Police explained that investigators are focusing on understanding what prompted the initial report and the behavior that led to the confrontation. “That’s part of what our investigators will find out—why they were called there. Obviously, something brought him to their attention, the way he was acting, and obviously something was going on for there to be a confrontation and exchange of gunfire with officers,” Fifeld said.
In addition to the criminal investigation, Indiana State Police are also reviewing the officers’ use of force. As is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings, both officers present during the incident will be placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
At this time, authorities have not provided further details about Gerber’s actions before the shooting or any potential motive. The investigation remains active, with police urging anyone who may have witnessed the events or has information to come forward.
The incident has prompted concern in the local community, particularly given its location near a hotel and major roadway during busy morning hours. Officials emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are expected to release more details in the coming days, including body camera footage and any relevant findings from the crime scene.