Highland man shot, killed by officer after becoming violent

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The Porte De L'eau apartments are seen in Highland, Ind.Tuesday January 31, 2012. A Highland police officer shot and killed a man early Tuesday morning after an altercation at an apartment. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 2, 2012 8:11AM

A Highland police officer shot and killed a man early Tuesday morning after an altercation at an apartment complex, according to a press release from the Indiana State Police.

Two unnamed police officers responded to a call about a possible domestic situation at a Port De L’eau apartments around 12:45 a.m. They talked to Joshua R. Jones, 27, of Highland, who was cooperating with them for a while.

However, the release says that when Jones saw his mother, he started attacking her.

When the officers tried to pull him away, he turned on them and tried to take one of their guns. He then grabbed one of the officers’ baton and started hitting the officer with it. The other officer tried to Taser Jones twice, although neither time worked, the release said. Jones then started hitting the second officer with the baton. That officer shot his gun at Jones, hitting him, according to the release. It does not say where Jones was hit.

Jones was pronounced dead at Community Hospital in Munster. The Lake County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy Tuesday and determined that Jones died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.

One officer was treated for head injuries; both officers have been placed on administrative leave following Highland Police Department’s rules.

Highland Police had responded to Jones’ residence in the past for prior situations. According to Lake County court records, Jones had been cited for speeding, seat belt violations and other moving violations, including four incidents in the past three months. In 2008, he was the focus of a guardianship case, but the case was closed in 2009 when his proposed guardian failed to petition the court for permanent guardianship.

The Indiana State Police is investigating the shooting. The investigation is ongoing and expected to take several weeks to complete. At the conclusion of the investigation it will be submitted to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for review.