Lansing police Tuesday were searching for a motive in the deadly gun battle that erupted in the south suburb late Monday night in which a Lansing police officer was killed and another was seriously wounded.
Also killed in the shooting was a man suspected of firing the shots at the two police officers.
The shootings took place in a wooded field near the intersection of 172nd Street and Oak Avenue about 10:20 p.m. Monday.
Killed were Kenneth R. Novak, 27, a full-time police dispatcher and part- time officer who was shot twice in the left side of his chest and once in the arm. Also killed was Kevin Hardy, 22, of Indianapolis.
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The second officer, George Dragicevich, 25, was in serious condition at Olympia Field Osteopathic Medical Center with bullet wounds to his right side and lower abdomen.
According to police, both men were wearing bulletproof vests.
Police say Novak was on a routine patrol in the secluded area when he saw a parked car with a woman in the passenger seat. He apparently asked the woman, Stephanie Ludy, 20, of Indianapolis, for her drivers license and went back to his car to run a computer check on her identification.
Dragicevich apparently pulled along side of Novak`s car and the two were talking when police speculate that Hardy rushed toward Novak, who was seated in his car.