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

PENDLETON, Ind. (WISH) — A woman died Wednesday morning after being hit by a teen driver in rural Madison County, the sheriff’s department says.

Deputies with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the 9100 block of South County Road 150 West around 9 a.m. to investigate a pedestrian-struck incident.

That area is about seven minutes southeast of downtown Pendleton, just off of State Route 38.

There, they located the woman dead at the scene; deputies soon learned she’d been hit by a 2013 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 17-year-old male.

The sheriff’s department says the accident is still under investigation. They did not indicate if the teen was arrested or would face charges.

The woman’s identity has not been released.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — IU basketball gave media full access to practice on Wednesday.

It’s a completely new look team this season. No scholarship players return from the 2024-25 roster, and new head coach Darian DeVries leads the Hoosiers.

Here are 8 quotes that stood out from the full access practice:

1. DeVries on practicing with high energy

“We think you got to approach it every day with some energy and some enthusiasm. Guys are going to get tired. It allows other guys to pick you up on those days. We put a huge emphasis on that. I think creating that type of talk and energy on a daily basis leads to productivity on the floor too. And then the pace that we practice, we try to really simulate how we want to play out on the gameday floor.”

The energy at practice was evident on Wednesday.

2. DeVries on what he’s seen from his team this summer

“What I’ve liked is that guys seem like they’ve played together for a lot longer than they have these two months. When you watch the practice tape, it looks like a group that’s been together for two or three years, the way they’ve really been moving it and sharing it.”

3. DeVries on the culture that has been set for this team

“They’ve been terrific in terms of their approach every day. They come with a smile on their face. They bring great energy. What you saw today has been every day these last couple months. They come with that type of energy, enthusiasm… I like the potential of this group. They’ll continue to work, which they have. I think there’s certainly some possibilities there on what this group can achieve.”

4. Conor Enright on what he likes about this team

“I love that we can shoot. We got a lot of very unselfish guys that can shoot. We can play fast. I think we have enough guys that can be that tough and hard nosed identity too.”

IU has been below average nationally in three-point percentage in seven of the past eight seasons. DeVries’ team is looking to change that this season.

5. Lamar Wilkerson on the chemistry this team has built

“We all hang out. We all go out and just be around each other. We enjoy being around each other. A lot of programs don’t have that.”

6. DeVries on their upcoming Puerto Rico trip

“For them, able to just hang with each other and spend some different type of time, outside of the basketball court. You get guys that come in, they’re all at different stages of their lives. A lot of them are older guys. They don’t go out as much anymore and those type of things. For them to all be in a group together in one setting is going to be great for us and then to get to play those three games on top of it, it should be an awesome trip.”

The Hoosiers go to San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 5-12. IU will play a Puerto Rican All-Star team and two games against Mega Superbet, a Serbian professional team.

7. Tucker DeVries on the opportunity to play for IU

“I think as a group, we know what it means to have Indiana across our chests. We want to do everything and put in all the work we can to make that fanbase and the people around here proud of the style we play, how we play, and the manner we do it. We’re trying to bring energy every day to get better to make those people proud.”

8. Trent Sisley on playing in front of the Hoosier fans

“Obviously we got some of the best fans in the country and I think most of the guys here know that too just from the history of it. We’re all excited to get into Assembly Hall and get that place rocking and win some games.”

Sisley, a Santa Claus, Indiana native, is the only scholarship player on the roster from Indiana.

The Hoosiers play their first game in the regular season on November 5 against Alabama A&M at Assembly Hall.

More IU basketball coverage

IU basketball gives media full access for practice

IU basketball adds Bosnian center Andrej Acimovic

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – There have been three IMPD officers attacked and injured on the job in the last week, according to the department, as the city works to get a handle on recent high-profile shootings. 

Tuesday, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer was shot three times while trying to arrest the driver of a stolen car. 

The shooting ended with two suspects under arrest, both now charged, another suspect in the hospital in critical condition, and a fourth suspect still on the run. The officer, a four-year veteran of IMPD, left the hospital on Wednesday, surrounded by a crowd of cheering police. 

• Heroic neighbors aid officer shot in west side police shooting

One other officer broke his leg while wrestling a suspect during an arrest on Tuesday. IMPD didn’t provide specific details about the third officer hurt.

Tuesday’s shooting happened in the Haughville neighborhood at an apartment complex just down the road from Pastor Dwight Harwell’s church, Latter House Ministries. 

“We cannot let one incident define the neighborhood,” Harwell said.

Haughville is an area where there’ve been multiple public efforts to build the relationship between police and the public. IMPD recruits helped paint over graffiti in the spring, and officers joined a show of unity when neighbors faced rampant vandalism. 

It’s an area Harwell believes has potential, even though challenges are created by recent high-profile youth and gun violence. 

“Within the church body, even we struggle sometimes to meet the need because the need is so overwhelming,” Harwell said. 

Indianapolis City-County Councilmember Vop Osili says challenges like these are “incredibly troubling.”

Osili represents the west side district which covers Haughville. He says there’s been a concerted effort to reach out to at-risk youth and families since the Independence Day weekend mass shooting downtown – the first of two Indianapolis mass shootings in July. 

“This is not a we-they thing,” Osili said. “This really is an ‘us’ thing.” 

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett told News 8 in a statement: 

“Every time they don their badge, IMPD officers are putting their safety on the line to protect the safety of our city. The officer shot in the line of duty yesterday was doing exactly what we ask of our police department: proactively patrolling and working to prevent crime. 

Indianapolis is fortunate to have the best police department in the country, and I am grateful every day for our officers’ dedication to our community. 

My prayers are with the injured officer, his wife, his family, and his fellow officers. And I extend my gratitude to all the first responders who came to the scene, the community members who quickly came to the officer’s aid, and the medical professionals at Eskenazi who continue to do everything they can to make sure this officer makes a full recovery.”

IMPD has not identified the officer shot. He’s on administrative leave, pending a review of the shootout. Later Tuesday evening, IMPD said an officer broke their fibula while arresting a man for assault, marking the third line-of-duty injury in a week.

Anyone with information on the other suspect or about the shooting was asked to contact Sgt. Brian Lambert at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The head chef and other male cooks at Boss Man Tacos are accused of sexual harassment of female servers at its Highland, Indiana, restaurant, according to a lawsuit from the Indianapolis district office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The lawsuit claims that female employees, including teenagers, were subjected to a hostile work environment.

The harassment reportedly included trapping women in restrooms and walk-in refrigerators, making unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate touching, and lewd comments.

The commission claims that the harassment was severe enough to compel some employees to quit their jobs.

The restaurant is located at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Lincoln Street in Highland. It does business at Bossman Tacos LLC.

The lawsuit says Boss Man Tacos violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment.

The lawsuit was filed in the Hammond division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

The sides are trying to reach a settlement, the commission said in a news release.

Kenneth L. Bird, Indianapolis regional attorney for the commission, said in a statement in a news release, “Employers have a responsibility to create a safe working environment for their employees, especially when the company hires young employees who may not know their rights and may be particularly vulnerable to harassment in the workplace.”

Highland, a Lake County town of 23,500 residents, is in northwest Indiana.

This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WISH) — One person is behind bars, and almost two dozen animals are on their way to recovery after being rescued from a dogfighting ring operating in Fort Wayne on Tuesday afternoon.

The Fort Wayne Police Department says the investigation into the ring spanned almost six months.

Search warrants were issued at three different properties in Fort Wayne, resulting in the rescue of 22 dogs and puppies.

During the searches, Trevel Bell was arrested at a home on East Berry Street on preliminary charges of two counts of possessing an animal for fighting.

They were not listed as an inmate in the Allen County jail as of Wednesday.

Multiple agencies responded to assist with the dogs, including a team from the nonprofit Humane World for Animals. They described the animals’ living areas as filthy and sweltering due to the 110-degree heat index.

“On the first property, (investigators) found dogs panting in filthy hutches and cages. Despite the scorching heat, many of the dogs had no access to water, and several had significant scarring consistent with dogfighting,” the nonprofit wrote in a release. “Responders discovered a shed containing dogfighting paraphernalia, including two treadmills and a stand typically used in dogfighting operations to restrain dogs for breeding.”

At the second location, Humane World says dogs in heavy chains with varying degrees of injuries: several animals were suffering flystrike, or when flies lay eggs on an animal, and one female was “covered in scars and missing part of her lip.”

Blood spatter from the animals was found on the walls of this property’s basement.

Samantha Chapman, the Indiana director for Humane World for Animals, says despite the circumstances, the dogs were still eager for attention.

“Between the suffocating heat, filthy conditions, and bodies covered in scars—it’s incomprehensible. Yet these dogs still greeted us with wagging tails and hopeful eyes. We are deeply grateful to the Fort Wayne Police Department for intervening in this case and giving these dogs a chance at the lives they deserve.” 

Commenting on the arrest, Fort Wayne Police Chief Scott Caudill says the department will continue its commitment to “ensuring justice for those involved.”

“We are committed to ensuring justice for those involved and providing care for the animals recovered. I commend our team for their tireless efforts and thank our community partners, including animal welfare organizations, for their support. The Fort Wayne Police Department will continue to take decisive action against any form of animal cruelty to keep our city safe for all its residents—human and animals alike.” 

Officials haven’t said where the dogs were transported, but confirm they are safe and receiving much-needed care.

No other arrests have been announced.

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — The female pilot who died in a plane crash in Greenwood was the founder of an Asian female pilots association, a Purdue grad, and the 10th woman to fly solo around the world.

Anh-Thu Nguyen, 44, from Miami, died Wednesday morning after her plane suddenly crashed behind a Circle K gas station at 1183 E. Main Street in Greenwood.

Nguyen, the plane’s sole occupant, died at the scene. The cause of her crash has not been determined.

This flight, according to Nguyen’s social media, was en route to Pennsylvania as part of her mission to fly solo around the world – again.

From war-torn village to big dream come true

Nguyen is the founder of the Asian Women in Aerospace & Aviation, an organization launched in 2018 dedicated to “encouraging, empowering, and engaging the next generation of Asian female pilots, Aerospace Engineers, and STEM professionals.”

According to the AWAA website, Nguyen’s path to becoming a pilot started as a simple dream she held close while growing up in Tuy-Hoa, Vietnam, a village with no electricity or running water.

She and her family immigrated to America at age 12, living in poverty with no support system. The AWAA says many flight instructors discouraged her and “readily disqualified her” – but she kept going.

“Earning $6/hr as a Math tutor & taking out student loans, she lived in my car and perhaps unlawfully crashed in airports during flight training in order to become a pilot & later AOPA Distinguished Flight Instructor, and a B767 pilot for a major carrier.”

Nguyen eventually graduated valedictorian from her high school and was in the top 10 of her class when she graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in math and her eventual Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics. She also earned her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech.

After founding AWAA in 2018, Nguyen opened the Dragon Flight Training Academy at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Here, she served as a flight instructor to many future pilots and helped students develop “skills in risk assessment and safety-oriented decision-making.”

She became the 10th female pilot and first Vietnamese pilot to fly solo around the world in 2024. She told Purdue in an interview following the flight that she “longed to have that experience of flying and controlling a plane, of feeling small and vulnerable yet at the same time so powerful.”

‘This is more than just a flight’

Nguyen’s 2025 flight, a journey six years in the making, started in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Sunday. The second leg of the trip began in Indiana Wednesday morning.

Her most recent social media post was published before Wednesday’s flight. Nguyen was seen in a video seated in the cockpit preparing to take off.

“This is more than just a flight, okay?” she said. “This is a mission to inspire the next generation of Asian female pilots and aerospace engineering professionals.”

Her 2024 trip consisted of 25 stops, according to Purdue, but it was unclear how many places Nguyen’s 2025 journey would take her.

A bold and inspiring woman

The AWAA released a statement after Nguyen’s death, recognizing its founder as an “inspiring pilot” who lived with “boldness” and “curiosity.”

We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend, founder, mentor, and leader, Anh-Thu Nguyen, who passed away in a tragic accident during her solo journey around the world.

Anh-Thu was an inspiring pilot, instructor, and advocate for girls and women in aerospace and aviation. She lived with boldness, curiosity, and drive. She came from humble beginnings to becoming a beacon of hope to many.

Those wishing to honor her legacy may make a donation to the 501c3 nonprofit in her name; we will use the funds to continue her dream of helping young girls pursue their dreams and a scholarship in her name.

Well wishes and thoughts can be left on her main social pages:
Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilot_anh_thu
Her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anu.nguyen

We hold her family, friends, and community dearly in our hearts at this time. May she fly high in the blue skies.

Asian Women in Aerospace & Aviation

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A Marion County jury on Tuesday convicted a 29-year-old Indianapolis man for the 2023 murder of a 29-year-old man outside a liquor store on the city’s northwest side.

Ja’Que Mason will be sentenced Sept. 5 in Marion Superior Court 28 for the shooting death of Abel Ramos-Utuy just after 1:30 a.m. Oct. 21, 2023, outside the store near the intersection of West 56th Street and Georgetown Road. Ramos-Utuy died a short time later at a hospital.

A news release issued Wednesday from the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said that, after the shooting, detectives received a tip from a woman who called 911 with information about the shooting. Upon contacting her, a man indicated that his son might have been involved. This led investigators to Mason, who arrived at the IMPD homicide office with his mother and other witnesses.

Mason told investigators that Ramos-Utuy approached him outside the store, asking if Mason had said something to him. Mason’s friend attempted to deescalate the situation. Mason said that Ramos-Utuy appeared intoxicated and reached behind his back, prompting Mason to fire his weapon. However, no weapon was found on Ramos-Utuy or in his vehicle.

Video footage from the liquor store showed Ramos-Utuy parking next to Mason’s vehicle, entering and exiting the store, and then having a brief conversation with Mason. The footage captured Mason pulling out his handgun and firing at Ramos-Utuy as he turned around and backed toward his vehicle.

Investigators recovered Mason’s Glock and five spent shell casings after receiving consent to search. The magazine for the Glock was found at Mason’s home.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, a Democrat, said in a statement in the release, “Tensions are elevated when people fear or believe that everyone is armed. It can turn a simple exchange between strangers into murder in a matter of seconds. Nothing leading up to this tragedy warranted any kind of violence, yet a man is dead and the other will spend the rest of his life in prison as consequence.”