Retired Officer Killed By Friendly Fire At Munster Hospital

MUNSTER, IN—A retired law enforcement officer was shot and killed while working security at a hospital in Munster early Tuesday morning. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office has since confirmed that the security officer, 59-year-old Ryan Askew, died by friendly fire when his co-worker, Benny Freeman, opened fire during a fight with a combative psychiatric patient.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez told the Northwest Indiana Times that the incident occurred around 1 a.m. Tuesday when the two retired sheriff's officers, who were working security at Community Hospital in Munster, responded to a report of a psychiatric patient beating a nurse.

The sheriff initially told the newspaper that a struggle ensued and the patient, 22-year-old Jamal Williams, was able to loosen a gun from Askew's gun belts. Martinez said after Williams had the gun in his possession, he opened fire, shooting Askew in the arm, killing him. The second officer, Freeman, returned fire, killing Williams, according to the sheriff.

However, the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office disputes the early account of what happened. According to prosecutors, during the encounter, Williams placed Askew in a chokehold and began hitting him with his right hand. CBS 2 reported that nurses and staff said Askew was going in and out of consciousness. At that point Askew's co-worker, Freeman, upholstered his gun and fired twice, striking Williams in the face and Askew in the arm.

Hospital staff attended to Askew, but the bullet had traveled into his chest and he died, prosecutors said.

Williams also died from his injuries.

Askew leaves behind a wife, a daughter and two foster children. He was a 15-year veteran of the department and retired in 2004 as a commander.