Northwest Indiana man shot, killed by police during psych evaluation response ID’d

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — A man was shot and killed Saturday afternoon in Northwest Indiana amid a police psychological evaluation response. He was identified Tuesday and his death was ruled a homicide.

New Chicago officers were dispatched to 200 block of Huber Street at around 3:30 p.m. after a 911 call from a man, later identified as Benjamin Scott, 64, stating that his roommate was dead inside the residence.

The man’s roommate, identified as Aaron Onohan, 46, died of acute cardiac arrest.

According to Indiana State Police, Scott allegedly became agitated with the responding officers and New Chicago police requested an ambulance response to the scene for a psychological evaluation on him.

At around 4:30 p.m., two New Chicago officers shot Scott inside the residence and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Circumstances on what happened inside are not known at this time. New Chicago police did not respond to WGN News.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office Tuesday morning ruled the death as a homicide by multiple gunshot wounds.

“This remains an active investigation and once it is completed, it will be submitted to the Lake County Prosecutor for final review,” Indiana State Police said.

The officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard for officer-involved shootings, and New Chicago police expressed condolences for the family and called the event “tragic.”

Chief Earl Mayo went on to say that identities of the officers involved will be released to “ensure full transparency.”

A weapon was recovered at the scene, according to Indiana State Police.

Indiana State Police is the investigating agency.