(La Porte County, IN) - If the case goes to trial, the suspect in the shooting of a La Porte County Police officer will not be tried outside the county.

 

A request by the suspect for a change of venue was denied yesterday in La Porte Circuit Court.  Instead, the judge decided to have a jury chosen from outside La Porte County and have them hear the case here.

 

Officer Jon Samuelson suffered paralysis as a result of the shooting in May and is working hard toward his goal of walking again.

 

Sharod Grafton, 22, of Chicago is charged with Level 1 felony attempted murder and other counts. The defense asked for a change of venue claiming Grafton would not be able to have an impartial jury here due to pre-trial publicity.

 

Samuelson was shot during a struggle with Grafton after the officer learned he was a suspect in the theft of his mother’s vehicle at gunpoint prior to making the trip from Chicago to La Porte County.

 

The shooting occurred just outside Michigan City.