Police: Man shot by Lake County officer dies

GARY, Ind. (AP) - A Merrillville man shot by a Lake County sheriff's officer during a traffic stop in Gary has died.

Indiana State Police say 18-year-old Marquis Thomas died Thursday after being transferred from Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus to Loyola University Medical Center outside Chicago.

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports (http://bit.ly/2jSt7EA) State Police Sgt. Ann Wojas did not have any additional information about Thomas' death.

Police say the officer stopped a vehicle Wednesday afternoon, and the driver and passenger fled on foot in different directions. The officer and his dog partner pursued the passenger, who opened fired at them.

Police say the officer's police dog, a 6-year-old Dutch shepherd named Blade, also was wounded in an exchange of gunfire and was in stable condition Thursday at Purdue University Veterinary Hospital in West Lafayette.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com