A Borman Expressway shooting on I-80/94 in Hammond, Indiana, left an Indiana State Police trooper injured and a suspect dead after a traffic stop near Indianapolis Boulevard.
The shooting happened just after midnight CDT on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, near the Illinois-Indiana state line, according to Indiana State Police. The incident caused major lane closures and disrupted the morning commute on one of Northwest Indiana’s busiest highway corridors.
Traffic Stop Near Indianapolis Boulevard Turned Into Shooting
Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield said a trooper stopped a gray Hyundai Elantra for a minor traffic violation. During the stop, something observed by the trooper prompted him to draw his firearm and request backup.
Officers from the Hammond Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist.
Suspect Killed, Passenger Taken Into Custody
After backup reached the scene, the driver allegedly pulled out a handgun, leading to an exchange of gunfire, Fifield said.
The Indiana State Police trooper, a Hammond police officer and two Lake County sheriff’s officers fired their weapons. The driver, described as a 34-year-old man from Gary, Indiana, died at the scene.
A 34-year-old female passenger was taken into custody and held at the Lake County jail on a 48-hour probable cause hold.
Indiana Trooper Stable After Surgery
The Indiana State Police trooper suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. He was first taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to the University of Chicago Medical Center for surgery.
Officials said the trooper was in stable condition. No other officers were reported injured.
I-80/94 Lane Closures Caused Commute Delays
The shooting investigation blocked lanes on I-80/94 for an extended period on Tuesday morning. Eastbound traffic was affected from Indianapolis Boulevard to Kennedy Avenue, while westbound lanes also faced restrictions.
Drivers were advised to avoid the area as police processed the scene. Indiana State Police is leading the investigation.
The case is significant for Northwest Indiana commuters because the Borman Expressway connects heavy traffic between Chicago, Hammond, Gary and other Lake County communities.
