Marquis Thomas

The Washington Post's Fatal Force database records Marquis Thomas in a fatal on-duty police shooting on 2017-01-18 in Gary, IN. Individual circumstances and legal outcome require case-specific review.

What happened

Marquis Thomas, 18, of Merrillville, Indiana, was shot by a Lake County sheriff's officer during a pursuit in Gary on January 18, 2017, and died the following evening at Loyola University Medical Center. Indiana State Police said Thomas was a passenger in a Toyota Avalon stopped by a deputy around 3 p.m. near 42nd Avenue. He fled on foot toward railroad tracks and was pursued by the officer and his police dog, Blade. Police alleged that Thomas fired at the pursuing deputy, seriously injuring Blade in the mouth, jaw and neck; the deputy returned fire and wounded Thomas. The dog required surgery, and the driver of the car was subsequently interviewed without being treated as a suspect. State police opened an investigation into the shooting. The accounts of who fired when came from investigating officers, and the reporting did not establish a later prosecutor's decision. Thomas's death occurred at a hospital the day after the shooting, so the encounter and death dates are distinct.

Investigation & findings

Individual legal and investigative outcome not yet reviewed.

What happened

Investigation & findings

Sources & records