The man involved in a shootout with Chesterton Police officers Wednesday morning died by suicide when he shot himself in the head after being struck by multiple gunshots, the Porter County Coroner’s office ruled Thursday.
The dead man was identified as Joseph P. Gerber, 45, of Winamac. Toxicology is pending.
According to online court records, Elkhart County issued a warrant for Gerber’s arrest on Tuesday, with a note that he be held without bond, after he violated the terms of his probation from a 2019 case in which he pleaded guilty to armed robbery, a Level 3 felony.
Relatives were notified about Gerber’s death Wednesday evening.
Gerber died at the scene after exchanging gunfire with two Chesterton Police officers in front of the Hilton Garden Inn, 501 Gateway Boulevard, in Chesterton at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Chesterton police officer wounded during the confrontation was released late Wednesday from a trauma hospital in Illinois, according to a release from Indiana State Police’s Lowell Post, which is handling the investigation. The other officer, a 25-year veteran, was not hurt.
Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure. Police have not released the names of the officers.
According to online court records, Gerber had a lengthy criminal history, including an April 2019 guilty plea to armed robbery, a Level 3 felony, in exchange for the dismissal of charges of possession of an altered handgun, a Level 5 felony, and a misdemeanor count of unlawful use of a police radio.
He was sentenced to 12 years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with six years suspended and credit for just over a year served in jail. His sentence was modified in December 2023 after a probation violation, and he was to serve the rest of his time with Michiana Community Corrections.
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It’s not immediately clear from online records how Gerber violated the terms of his probation most recently; notice of a violation was filed by Michiana Community Corrections Monday.
Chesterton Police were initially called by a Hilton Garden Inn employee who stated that there was a man who was acting “suspiciously” on their property. Gerber was not a registered guest at the hotel, the Indiana State Police said.
When the officers met with Gerber, the situation quickly became a confrontation and the shooting took place outside the hotel in the middle of Gateway Boulevard, police said. There were more than 50 yellow markers in the street, many of them covering shells.
A gun, identified as used by the suspect, was also recovered from the middle of the street.
Chesterton Police, because their officers were involved, immediately turned over the investigation of the case to the Indiana State Police.
Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann will also decide how to proceed after the Indiana State Police investigation is finished.
Post-Tribune reporter Amy Lavalley contributed.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.