(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputy is making significant strides in his recovery from being shot three times last week.

 

That’s according to La Porte County Police, who revealed that officer Jon Samuelson is communicating with family, friends and colleagues while remaining in good spirits.  Samuelson yesterday was also reunited with his K-9 partner, Bosco, inside his room in the intensive care unit at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

 

 

 

 

“The Samuelson family and the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office remain deeply grateful for the compassion, professionalism and dedication shown by the surgeons, physicians, nurses, therapists and support staff who continue to care for him throughout his recovery journey,” said La Porte County Police Capt. Derek Allen.

 

Samuelson on Friday was shot in the emergency room area at Franciscan Health. The suspect, Sharod Grafton, Jr., 22, of Chicago is charged with attempted murder and other counts.  New details obtained from the case show Grafton after the third shot allegedly tried firing again but the gun jammed. 

 

Earlier that morning, police said the investigation shows Grafton stole his mother’s car at gunpoint and was near Westville when approached by Samuelson, who thought he was assisting a stranded motorist.

 

For unknown reasons, Grafton asked to be taken to the hospital.  Samuelson drove him to the hospital and left but soon returned when informed Grafton was in possession of a stolen vehicle.

 

Police said Samuelson was about to arrest him when during a scuffle he was shot. According to court documents, Samuelson during a preliminary examination suffered paralysis from the chest down from a bullet lodged in his spine.