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1 dead in suicide outside Markland Mall in Kokomo

KOKOMO, Ind. (WISH) — A man fatally shot himself outside Markland Mall after a police officer told the man that he was wanted for a probation violation, Kokomo police said. 

A spokesman for Kokomo police said the shooting was a suicide. Police said they are withholding the name of the man. 

Police shortly before 2:30 p.m. received a report of two people possibly passed out inside a white Chrysler PT Cruiser in the area of Imperial Drive and Saratoga Avenue. 

Officer Drew Wallsmith found the compact sport utility vehicle traveling west on Savoy Drive into the mall parking lot and initiated a traffic stop. The officer found a man and a woman in the vehicle and asked them to provide identification, which they did. 

The officer ran a check on them and found the man, who was driving the vehicle, was wanted in Tippecanoe County for a probation violation. 

The officer returned to the vehicle to ask the man to exit the vehicle. That’s when the man produced a gun. 

The officer then removed his handgun and retreated from the vehicle while the driver announced he was going to shoot himself while sitting inside the vehicle. 

Markland is an enclosed shopping mall at State Road 22 and U.S. 931. It features a Target as one of its anchor stores. It is managed by Washington Prime Group. 

Steve Gerber, senior vice president of property management for Washington Prime Group, said in a statement: 

“We are deeply saddened by this isolated incident and our thoughts are with the individual’s family and loved ones. We are working closely with the Kokomo Police Department as they investigate the incident which occurred in the parking lot at U.S. 931 and Savoy Drive. For more information, please contact the Kokomo Police Department directly at (765) 457-1105.”

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