A reportedly suicidal Merrillville woman was shot and injured by Merrillville Police on Tuesday, in a case being investigated by the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF).

According to a statement released after deadline on Tuesday, at 7 a.m. MPD officers were dispatched to a residence on Sunset Road in the Forest Hills subdivision, after family members requested a welfare check on a 43-year-old woman at the home.

When officers knocked on her door, MCTF said, the woman exited the residence and pointed a loaded handgun at them. “After refusing commands to drop the weapon, two Merrillville officers fired their weapons, striking the woman once in the arm.”

The woman was transported to Methodist Hospital-Southlake Campus “in good condition and was being admitted for a mental evaluation,” MCTF said.

The MPD officers were not injured.

The MPD asked MCTF to investigate the shooting. The case has been referred to the Lake County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review of possible charges.

Posted 3/21/2012