VIDEO UPDATE: Terre Haute Police Officer Shot And Killed While Investigating Homicide; Suspect In Custody

Update 9:25 pm

Police have the suspect in custody and he is injured, according to Sgt. Joe Watts of the Indiana State Police. Medics were on site and have been called to treat the man. At 9:19 the the THPD Special Response Team made an entry through second-floor window by way of a ladder to Building 83.

Update, 8:55: 

A Terre Haute police officer was shot and killed about 6:30 p.m. today in The Garden Quarter, an apartment complex west of Dixie Bee Elementary and Ivy Tech Community College and along Jessica Drive south of Terre Haute.

Sgt. Joe Watts of Indiana State Police and Sgt. Denzil Lewis of the Terre Haute Police confirmed the officer’s death during a brief news conference at the Garden Quarter. A police standoff with an armed, barricaded suspect continues there.

The sergeants said city police were investigating a homicide and had a identified a person living at the apartment complex as a possible suspect.

Police did not say when the homicide being investigated occurred.

Officers were approaching the man’s apartment building at the Garden Quarter when they were fired upon. One was hit and later succumbed to his wounds at Terre Haute Regional Hospital, police said.

Police have yet to release the slain officer’s name.

“It is another tragic loss for the Wabash Valley and the Terre Haute Police Department,” said Watts.

The sergeants said police have visual contact with the suspect, whom they believe they have isolated.

The building in question, No. 83, is completely surrounded, Lewis said.

The suspect’s name in known to police, but they have not yet disclosed it this evening.

Tactical officers can be seen around the building, and police rifles are trained on the suspect’s apartment. SWAT vehicles are present, and an ISP helicopter is overhead.

Neighbors have been told to get indoors and stay out of line of sight of the building in question.

Officers at the scene are from agencies including Terre Haute, ISP, Vigo County, West Terre Haute and Indiana Conservation.

The Terre Haute Police Department last lost a police officer to criminal violence on July 11, 2011, when Officer Brent D. Long was killed in the line of duty while serving an arrest warrant with a U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force at a home on North Eighth Street. Long, 34, had worked for the department for six years.

Update, 8:20 p.m.: Police have confirmed a Terre Haute police officer was shot and killed. He succumbed to his wounds at Terre Haute Regional Hospital.

Update, 7:45 p.m.

Although police have not released any official statements, multiple sources have told the Tribune-Star a police officer was shot.

Police currently have Building 83 at the Garden Quarter surrounded. Weapons are out; tactical officers and vehicles are present. It appears the suspect is barricaded in Building 83 and has a rifle.

Neighbors have been told to go into their homes and stay out of line of sight with the building in question.

Officers from at least four agencies are present. They include Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana State Police and West Terre Haute. Additional police vehicles are still arriving.

Chief John Plasse of Terre Haute police appears to have command.

Original story:

Police and medical personnel are responding to a report of an “officer down,” in The Garden Quarter, an apartment complex west of Dixie Bee Elementary and Ivy Tech Community College and along Jessica Drive.

Early reports indicate an officer was shot about 6:40 p.m. A medical helicopter has been requested.

Terre Haute Police Chief John Plasse and Assistant Chief Shawn Keen are at the scene.

Details remain sparse, but a law enforcement source did tell the Tribune-Star multiple agencies are on-scene.

Tribune-Star personnel are at the site. This report will be updated.