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Suspect dies in officer-involved shooting in New Castle

NEW CASTLE, Ind. (WISH) — A man was shot dead Sunday morning by police after authorities said he shot a New Castle officer in the chest.

The incident happened around 4 a.m. when officers responded to reports of a man breaking into cars.

Upon officers’ arrival, 24-year-old Jarred Burke attempted to flee the scene on bike. A K-9 unit was then deployed, catching Burke behind a church located in the 1700 block of Columbus Street.

According to Indiana State Police, as officers attempted to call off the dog and arrest Burke, the suspect pulled out a gun and shot one of the officers in the chest. The officer returned fire on Burke.

Burke would succumb to his injuries at the hospital.

“I heard some bang sounds, like gunshots or somebody beating on the door. I didn’t know for sure which, so I jumped up to see what was going on. I saw all the red lights flashing on the houses across the street, so I went out back to see what was going on, and there were a bunch of ambulances, fire trucks, police cars all up and down the street,” said Susan York.

York was staying with her fiancé at a New Castle home at the time of the shooting. She didn’t learn about what happened until hours later.

The New Castle officer’s injuries aren’t believed to be serious. ISP says a bulletproof vest may have saved the officer’s life.

People who live in the area described a very large crime scene. They told 24-Hour News 8 that investigators were out for hours processing the scene.

One woman says she woke up around 9 Sunday morning and realized her boyfriend’s car had been broken into. She believes Burke may have been responsible.

“Some guy broke into an STI Subaru and took a gun and a few magazines and some odds and ends and then left… I went out there and the car door was open, the driver door, and the gun was gone and everything was over the seats,” said Ashley Hampton, a New Castle resident.

Police have not yet said if they believe Burke is responsible for breaking into that car and if he had the missing gun on him at the time of the shooting.