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Sheriff stands by deputy who shot suspect in road rage incident

 NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. (WANE) A Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy shot a suspect Wednesday night after what appeared to begin as a road rage incident between two drivers.

Around 6 p.m., officers got a call about a road rage incident involving a man with a gun. It’s believed it started in Syracuse near the Pride gas station on State Road 13.

Preliminary reports suggest that two people left the area in separate vehicles southbound on State Road 13. At some point during the encounter, one of the drivers reportedly fired several shots at the other driver.

A deputy with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department found the two vehicles involved in the incident in North Webster. A short time later, at the intersection of Main and Huntington streets, the deputy was involved in a crash with the driver who was suspected of shooting at the other driver.

As the deputy approached the truck after the crash, he fired at the driver.

The driver of the truck was treated at the scene for a gunshot wound and injuries received in the crash. He was taken to a Fort Wayne hospital for treatment. The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time. The deputy is being treated for injuries he received in the crash. The condition of the other driver is unknown at this time.

The names of the parties involved as well as the name of the deputy will be released within the next 48 hours, police said late Wednesday.

On Thursday, then, the sheriff’s department said the deputy had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Indiana State Police. Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said, though, that the deputy acted appropriately.

“I am confident in the training that our officer has received, along with the officer’s judgement.” said Rovenstine in a written statement. “From the information and evidence that I have been provided at this time, I stand with our officer and his actions as we await the findings of the completed investigation.”