Marshall County police agencies assist in apprehension of armed shooting suspect in Fulton County

When a shooting incident unfolded in rural Fulton County early Thursday morning, law enforcement agencies from across the region rushed to assist — and three Marshall County agencies were among those who answered the call.

The Plymouth Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff's Department, and Marshall County Drug Task Force all provided personnel and specialized resources to help the Fulton County Sheriff's Office locate and apprehend an armed suspect following a shooting at a residence in the 4300 block of McCarty Lane near Olson Road in Rochester.

The incident began at approximately 5:50 a.m. on Thursday, August 13th, when Fulton County 911 received a report of a shooting. The initial caller reported hearing an argument followed by multiple gunshots. The preliminary investigation determined that an altercation had occurred between two males, during which 25-year-old Christian Sanderson allegedly produced a handgun and pointed it at the other male. As the other male attempted to disarm or deflect the firearm, the weapon discharged. Sanderson then fled the area on foot, allegedly firing additional rounds as he ran toward the roadway.

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

Because Sanderson was believed to be 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. It was during this critical search operation that the Marshall County agencies stepped in to assist.

Sanderson was eventually located and taken into custody without further incident, and the shelter-in-place advisory was lifted. He is being held pending the filing and review of criminal charges, and additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues.

Fulton County Sheriff Travis Heishman praised the swift and coordinated response from the neighboring agencies, noting that the mutual aid was critical to safely resolving the situation.

"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," Heishman said. "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."

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

The response highlights the strong working relationship between Marshall County law enforcement agencies and their regional partners. When a neighboring county faces a crisis involving an armed and dangerous suspect, the ability to quickly deploy additional personnel and specialized resources across jurisdictional lines can make the difference in bringing a dangerous situation to a safe resolution.

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

All charges are allegations, and Sanderson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.