Early morning altercation, shots fired, led to suspect taken into custody in Rochester

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is providing an update regarding an incident that occurred during the early morning hours of August 13, 2026, in the area of McCarty Lane and Olson Road, in Rochester.

About 5:50 a.m., Fulton County 911 received a report of a shooting at a residence in the 4300 block of McCarty Lane. The initial caller reported hearing an argument followed by multiple gunshots.

Deputies from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, along with officers from the Rochester Police Department, responded. The preliminary investigation determined that an altercation had occurred between two males. During the altercation, Christian Sanderson, 25, allegedly produced a handgun and pointed it at another male. As the other male attempted to disarm or deflect the firearm, the weapon discharged. The two became involved in a physical altercation. Sanderson subsequently fled the area on foot and allegedly fired additional rounds as he ran toward the road.

The other male sustained apparent injuries from the physical altercation and was evaluated by medical personnel. There were no reported gunshot injuries.

Due to the circumstances of the incident and information indicating Sanderson was armed, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office issued a shelter-in-place advisory for residents in and around the McCarty Lane and Olson Road area while law enforcement conducted an extensive search.
Sanderson was subsequently located and taken into custody without further incident.

The shelter- in-place advisory has been lifted.

Sanderson is being held pending the filing and review of criminal charges. Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues. 

Sheriff Travis Heishman stated: “I want to thank all of the neighboring agencies and our public safety partners who immediately responded and provided personnel and specialized resources to assist our deputies. Incidents like this demonstrate the importance of agencies working together, and the response we received today was outstanding. I also want to thank the residents in the area for following the shelter-in-
place order and the instructions of law enforcement. Their cooperation helped us safely resolve this incident.”

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Rochester Police Department, Indiana State Police, Logansport Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Marshall County Drug Task Force, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Fulton County 911, and Parkview EMS.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the community for its cooperation and patience while the search was conducted. Residents are reminded that when law enforcement issues a shelter-in-place or other emergency advisory, promptly following those instructions is
critical to maintaining public safety.

The investigation remains ongoing. Additional information will be released when it can be provided without compromising the investigation.