Officer Working Security At Munster Community Hospital Fatally Shot

UPDATE: There have been new developments since this story was published. Authorities have since reported that the bullet that took the life of Officer Ryan Askew was fired by a colleague who was also trying to subdue the patient. The latest updates can be found here.

CHICAGO (CBS)-- A patient fatally shot a retired sheriff's deputy at Munster Community Hospital early Tuesday morning.

According to Munster police, there was a "physical disturbance" between patient and a staff member in the emergency area of the hospital. Police then responded to a call of shots fired around 1:15 a.m.

As first reported by the Northwest Indiana Times, a psychiatric patient was beating a nurse and two security officers responded. During the ensuing struggle, the patient disarmed and fatally shot a retired Lake County Sheriff's officer working security at the hospital.

The retired Sheriff's Deputy was identified as Ryan Askew, 59, of Crown Point, by the Lake County Coroner. Askew was a 20-year veteran of our department and retired as a commander in 2004. The other officer is 65 years old.  He is a 25-year veteran of the Lake County Sheriff's Department and retired in 2010.  He is hospitalized in stable condition.

"Once on scene, officers located two deceased subjects inside of the hospital, both of which had sustained fatal gunshots wounds," Munster police said in a written release.

The Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force and the Munster Police Department are investigating.

The hospital is located at 901 McArthur Boulevard.

This is a developing story. 

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• Munster
• Indiana