Trooper John Streu and St. John Town Marshal James Larimer were shot and killed after responding to a report of two suspicious men sleeping in a vehicle behind Kolling Elementary School.

   The officers had handcuffed one of the men and placed him in the cruiser when the second man opened fire, striking Marshal Larimer. Trooper Streu returned fire, wounding the suspect. He then left his gun in the front seat and went to the aid of Marshal Larimer.

   When he did so the handcuffed suspect reached over the seat, picked up Trooper Streu's .357-caliber service weapon, and shot him, Marshal Larimer again and wounded another responding trooper who survived.

   He was taken to Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Dyer where he died two hours later.

   Both suspects had stolen a car from the home of a man in Cincinnati, Ohio, kidnapping and robbing him before he was left at a motel in Rockville.

   The 23-year-old man, who had escaped from the Indiana State Farm near Greencastle three months earlier, was found guilty by a jury on two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to two life terms in prison where he died in 2009.

   The 17-year-old wounded offender was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison where he died in 2015.

   Trooper Streu, from Logansport, was assigned to the Schererville post and had previously served as a deputy with the Cass County Sheriff's Department for three years. He was survived by his wife of two weeks, parents and brother.