(La Porte County, IN) - The family of a LaPorte County Police officer paralyzed from being shot in May is blasting a plea agreement reportedly offered to the suspected gunman.

 

Particularly hurtful to the family is the suspect, Sharon Grafton, allegedly stood over an already badly wounded Jon Samuelson during a struggle to deliver a fourth shot, but the gun jammed.  

 

“He intended to kill Jon,” said the victim’s father, Doug Samuelson, a retired Michigan City Police officer.

 

Samuelson said the 32-year old Grafton of Chicago should to go to trial and face a potential maximum 40-year sentence for attempted murder, if convicted, along with additional time if a jury also finds him guilty on any of his remaining counts. However, Samuelson said the plea offer would dismiss a weapons enhancement charge that could bring Grafton another roughly 15-years or more of imprisonment.

 

“I think he deserves every minute of time we can give him and I think Jon deserves that,” he said. 

 

Brian Wright, President of the Fraternal Order of Police Dunes Lodge #75 in Michigan City, is calling for La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan to resign as a civilian member of the local FOP chapter.

 

Wright, a sergeant during the afternoon shift at the Michigan City Police Department,  called the reported plea offer “a slap in the face” to law enforcement and a source of anger and  discouragement from officers feeling Fagan doesn’t have their backs. 

 

“They’re very unhappy and feel like we’re being let down,” he said.

 

When contacted, Fagan did not confirm or deny if a plea agreement was offered, saying he could not publicly discuss specifics in the case to avoid the potential of a mistrial should the case go before a jury.

 

“I appreciate the public feedback, as the ability to advocate and speak freely is constitutional bedrock.  However, I cannot comment beyond the public record as it could be considered prejudicial to the defendant, preventing him from getting a fair trial,” he said. 

 

The matter became an issue after a letter by Samuelson’s wife, Quinn, was recently posted on the FOP Dunes Lodge #75 webpage on Facebook with a message for readers to share. 

 

In the letter, Mrs. Samuelson said the prosecutor’s office knew her husband wanted the case to go to trial during a meeting with them in August to discuss options in moving forward with the allegations.   However, Samuelson said there were no further talks between the prosecutor’s office and her family before learning about a plea offer.

 

“A violent criminal like this does not deserve the mercy of a plea deal, especially when it’s done behind the victim’s back and by a prosecutor whose platform was pro law enforcement,” she said.

 

Samuelson said she spoke to Fagan about the plea offer but the common theme of their conversation was him telling her that “he understands.”

 

“Fagan has not witnessed Jon struggling to get in and out of his wheelchair.  Fagan has not heard Jon begging God for his legs to fully come back online each and every day.  Fagan has not had his life turned upside down.  So, no, he does understand,” she said.

 

According to authorities, Samuelson in May was heading to a police training session when he stopped to help Grafton, who he thought was a disabled motorist.   For unknown reasons, Grafton asked to be taken to a hospital, police said. 

 

Police said Samuelson drove him to Franciscan Health, a hospital along Interstate 94 outside Michigan City, and escorted him inside.  Samuelson then left but returned a few minutes later after learning Grafton was a suspect in the theft of his mother’s car at gunpoint in Chicago, police said.

 

During a confrontation in the emergency room area, Grafton allegedly shot the officer three times and fled but was soon captured on foot.  One of the rounds lodged in his spine, causing paralysis from the chest down, according to police reports filed with the court.

 

There’s also an online petition drive asking any plea offers be pulled and the case go to trial.

 

If prosecutors go forward with a plea agreement, Samuelson and his family hope the judge presiding over the case rejects the deal and, eventually, the case winds up before a jury.

 

Samuelson said his son is more than willing to go into a courtroom and testify about the shooting.

 

“Jon needs to have his day in court.  Whether he walks into the courtroom by a walker or a wheelchair, Jon needs to be in that court,” he said. 

 

Currently, Grafton has a trial date scheduled for November 9.