Indiana State Police Investigating Police-Involved Shooting in Harrison County

Officer was attempting to serve warrants

Laconia, Indiana - Friday, November 4, 2022:  Detectives with the Indiana State Police are investigating a police-involved shooting after a sheriff's Deputy attempted to serve an arrest warrant at a rural Harrison County address. 

Around Noon on Friday, the Harrison County Sheriff's Department requested ISP detectives and crime scene investigators respond to an address in the 10,000 block of North Tobacco Landing Road SE, near Laconia, Indiana, after one of their deputies was involved in a police-involved shooting. When Investigators arrived, they learned that Harrison County Deputy Sean O'Sullivan went to the residence attempting to arrest 28-year-old Michael W. Kerns on warrants out of Kentucky and Indiana. Investigators believe that Officer O'Sullivan located and approached Michael Kerns, who was standing inside a detached garage with an open garage door. The investigation revealed Kerns then disobeyed the officer's orders, going further into the garage and retrieving a shotgun. Investigators believe Kerns exited the garage and raised the gun at Deputy O'Sullivan, who then fired his department handgun and struck Kerns in the shoulder.  

Kerns was taken into custody and provided emergency medical treatment by officers and ambulance personnel before being transported to University Hospital in Louisville with non-life-threatening injuries.  

This case is still under investigation. Lead detective Travis Baker advised more charges are likely pending the completion of the investigation.  

No Deputies were injured in the incident. At the time of the incident, Deputy O'Sullivan, a six-year veteran of the department, was in full uniform and in a marked police car. Sheriff Nick Smith advised that, per his department's policy, Deputy O'Sullivan will be on paid administrative leave during the investigation.