Deputy Saved Nurse's Life Before Being Shot, Now Recovering

A split-second decision by Indiana Deputy Jon Samuelson saved a nurse's life even as it put his own in grave danger during a hospital shooting last week.

The 12-year veteran was doing what came naturally on Friday morning when he stopped to help what appeared to be a stranded driver on State Road 2 near Westville, Indiana. Sharod Grafton, 22, asked for a ride to nearby Franciscan Health Michigan City, and Samuelson drove him there without hesitation.

Minutes after dropping Grafton at the emergency room, Samuelson learned the young man was wanted for stealing his mother's car at gunpoint in Chicago. The deputy returned to the hospital to make an arrest.

What happened next unfolded in seconds. As Samuelson tried to handcuff Grafton in the waiting room, the suspect pulled out a handgun. The two men tumbled to the ground, struggling for control of the weapon as they rolled into the triage area.

A nurse who witnessed the fight told investigators that Grafton pointed the gun directly at him during the struggle. As the nurse ducked into the hallway to avoid being shot, he saw Samuelson roll Grafton's hand away from him at the critical moment.

That action saved the nurse's life. Immediately after, Grafton shot Samuelson point blank three times before fleeing into nearby woods.

Samuelson, 33, sustained gunshot wounds to his left shoulder, right calf, and behind his left ear. The bullet to his neck lodged in his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He underwent eight hours of surgery on Saturday, and doctors remain optimistic about his recovery.

Why This Inspires

Since the shooting, Samuelson has shown the same strength he demonstrated in that emergency room. He's communicating with loved ones and colleagues and remains in good spirits despite his injuries. On Tuesday, he got a visit that lifted everyone's hearts when his K-9 partner Bosco was brought to see him in the intensive care unit.

The LaPorte County Sheriff's Office says Samuelson has made significant strides in his recovery since that frightening Friday morning. His family and the medical team continue to stay hopeful as he heals.

Grafton was arrested shortly after the shooting, and investigators found the gun jammed in a truck bed where he'd been hiding. He faces charges of attempted murder and battery against a public safety official.

Deputy Samuelson's instinct to help a stranger and his courage to protect others in the face of danger reminds us that heroes don't just exist in stories.