Elkhart City mayor, police chief give update after series of shootings; investigators review officer‑involved incident

Elkhart City officials held a press conference to update residents after a cluster of violent incidents over three days, including an officer‑involved shooting outside High Dive Park that left a 17‑year‑old dead and separate shootings on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9.

Mayor (unnamed in the transcript) opened the briefing by expressing sympathy for victims, families and first responders and urging the community to work together. “Estas noticias… han sido difíciles para muchas personas,” the mayor said, describing himself as a parent and long‑time resident and asking for patience while investigations proceed.

Police Chief Jean Melanie, who identified herself at the briefing, described the investigative process for officer‑involved shootings. She said a shift supervisor responds to the scene and notifies the county homicide detective on duty; the homicide unit, operating from the county prosecutor’s office, leads multijurisdictional investigations of homicides, suspicious deaths and police use‑of‑force incidents. “Los incidentes de fuerza letal requieren las investigaciones más meticulosas y objetivas,” she said, explaining investigators collect body‑worn camera and vehicle footage, ballistic evidence, medical examinations and witness statements.

Officials said assembling and verifying that evidence can take weeks or months and warned that releasing unverified material can harm both the investigation and public trust. Chief Melanie said video and other evidence will be released only after it is verified and the homicide unit and county prosecutor approve its release. She told the public to expect a possible update early next week.

Chief Melanie provided specifics about recent incidents: she said that on Feb. 8 there was a drive‑by shooting involving two adult male victims; on Feb. 9 a 14‑year‑old was shot on North Six Street in West Jefferson and remains critically injured; and on Feb. 9 two adult men were involved in a physical altercation near West Street and Edtsburgh Avenue. She said some incidents appear independent and that detectives are working long hours following leads.

Officials also raised concerns about an increase in so‑called "ghost" or 3‑D‑printed firearms and recounted a separate, earlier incident in which a 10‑year‑old was shot in Mixhuaca. The mayor said he had spoken with another mayor (identified as Wood in the briefing) about that incident and emphasized the need for community reporting so investigations are not hindered by silence.

The mayor and the chief emphasized the human toll of the events: family members, classmates and neighbors are grieving, and first responders who handled the incidents are affected. The mayor said three violent events in a condensed three‑day span are not typical for Elkhart City and noted that most violent‑crime categories fell in 2025; officials said they will continue community engagement efforts and encouraged anyone with information to contact the Elkhart City Police Department.

The briefing closed with officials offering condolences, promising a Spanish‑language video to reach bilingual residents and making themselves available to answer public questions after the event.

What happens next: the homicide unit and the county prosecutor will review investigative materials; officials said they will provide an update as soon as authorized information can be released.