LAKE STATION, Ind. (AP) _ An initial investigation has found Lake Station police were justified in using deadly force when they fatally shot an armed 84-year-old man outside Lake Station City Hall.
The Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force report released Friday says three Lake Station police officers were justified when they shot John Laco of Portage on Tuesday after he fired a shotgun in the air and then moments later pointed it at officers after they ordered him to drop the weapon. The officers fired 11 shots at Laco, striking him in the head, chest and hand.
The task force will forward a formal report to the Lake County prosecutor's office for an official independent review of its investigation. The report issued Friday says the officers “potentially prevented other catastrophic events from occurring.''
