Police pursuit through county ends in shooting

A police chase through Putnam County early Thursday resulted in a police action shooting in Hendricks County.

The suspect was wanted for the murder of his wife in Terre Haute around 11 p.m. Wednesday, and had his four young children with him in the sport-utility as he raced across west central Indiana on Interstate 70.

Indiana State Police at Putnamville identified the suspect as Major Jones III, 28, Indianapolis.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hendricks County coroner.

The children in the vehicles were not harmed and were released to the Vigo County Department of Child Services.

Terre Haute Police report that they were called to the scene of a homicide at a hotel on U.S. 41 just north of I-70.

They found a white female, age 26, shot multiple times. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers learned that the male suspect was driving a black 2003 GMC SUV and had four young children with him ages 9 years to infant.

Terre Haute police located the vehicle on eastbound I-70 a the 21-mile marker and tried to stop it, but the driver continued east on I-70.

Indiana State Police troopers attempted to end the pursuit by deploying stop sticks at the 23-mile marker and 31-mile marker.

The vehicle struck the stop sticks, deflating the two front and a rear tire, however, the SUV continued eastbound at speeds from 10 to 90 mph.

Police were able to get the vehicle stopped at the 62.5-mile marker.

Officers began talking with the suspect and were successful in getting three of the four children released.

The suspect held the fourth child on his lap and had a handgun in his possession.

According to police, the suspect became increasingly agitated and raised the handgun toward officers and the child in a threatening manner.

Trooper Terry Watson, a three-year veteran and a member of the ISP Emergency Response Team, fired one shot, fatally wounding Jones.

Assisting ISP and Terre Haute police in the event were officers from the Putnam, Hendricks and Clay county sheriff's departments, Brazil Police, Plainfield Fire and Curtis Wrecker.