A City of Huntington police officer was seriously wounded and a 36-year-old Wabash man was killed when gunfire erupted as police pursued a man who was damaging property with a backhoe.
Around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a disturbance call in the 100 block of Schulz Drive on Huntington’s southwest side. According to a release from the Indiana State Police, a man identified as Matthew T. Melzoni was using a backhoe-style piece of equipment to destroy property around the neighborhood.
Police from both the Huntington Police and Huntington County Sheriff’s departments chased the man around the neighborhood, including the area around two schools where he continued to damage public and private property.
During the course of the pursuit, gunfire was exchanged and a police officer was wounded. Melzoni was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was taken to Lutheran Hospital and was listed in serious but stable condition, according to the Indiana State police.
The state police are investigating the incident.
