Winamac man dead after shootout with police in Chesterton

Friday, June 20, 2025 at 9:24 AM

By Shelby Lopez

A Winamac man was identified as the suspect killed in a shootout with police in Porter County on Wednesday.

Officials identified Joseph Gerber, 45, of Winamac, as the suspect killed during an exchange of gunfire.

According to reports, officers responded to a call just after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18, regarding a suspicious man carrying a weapon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Chesterton near the intersection of State Road 49 and the Indiana Toll Road. A confrontation between the suspect and police led to a shootout outside of the hotel.

The Porter County Coroner's Office identified the man as Joseph Gerber, 45, of Winamac. The coroner's office reported Gerber was pronounced dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and multiple gunshot wounds.

A 33-year-old Chesterton officer was also shot during the incident and rushed to an Illinois hospital. The officer was soon released and is expected to make a full recovery.

Indiana State Police are now leading an investigation on the incident and say a weapon was recovered at the scene and the two officers involved in the shootout have been placed on paid administrative leave. No further information on the incident is being released to the public at this time.