Man dead after shootout with SWAT team in South Bend

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WISH) — A man was found dead from gunshot injuries following a special weapons and tactics team standoff in St. Joseph County on Wednesday afternoon, Indiana State Police said in a news release issued Wednesday night.

Police were attempting to serve a search warrant related to a drug investigation about 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at a home when Justin Hufkens, 35, who was outside the home, fled on foot about half a block before entering the house in the 1600 block of Eldora Court. That’s along the St. Joseph River just east of the Twyckenham Drive bridge.

From the house, Hufkens, fired multiple shots at SWAT team members, who returned fire.

As Hufkens barricaded himself inside the home, negotiators made contact with him several times, but eventually lost communication after hearing gunfire from within the house. About 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, SWAT team members entered the house and found Hufkens dead from suspected gunfire.

An autopsy will determine the cause of death.

The Indiana State Police were assisted at the scene by the South Bend Police Department, the South Bend SWAT Team, the St. Joseph County Police Department, and the Indiana University South Bend Police Department.

The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office will review the investigation once it’s completed.

Mental health resources

• Be Well Indiana
• Indiana Suicide Prevention
• Indiana Department of Child Services’ Children’s Mental Health Initiative
• National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 or 800-273-8255
• More resources

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