Suspect in South 18th Street shooting charged with attempted murder

The suspect in the shooting on South 18th Street early yesterday morning, Saturday, Dec. 27, has been been formally charged with four felonies, including attempted murder, a Level 1 felony punishable by a term of 20 to 50 years, the Chesterton Police Department is reporting.

The suspect, Ian Patrick Toole, 37, has also been charged with aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony, punishable by a term of three to 16 years; battery, a Level 5 felony punishable by a term of one to six years; and strangulation, a Level 6 battery punishable by a term of six to 30 months.

The victim remains hospitalized and is listed in serious but stable condition, the CPD said.

CPD Det. Lt. Justin Frever’s probable cause affidavit in its entirety:

“Comes now Detective Lt. J. Frever No. 61, being first duly sworn upon my oath, depose and say as follows:

“I am employed as a police officer with the Chesterton Police Department as a Detective and have held such position throughout this investigation.

“In accordance with I.C. 35-44.1-2-1, I affirm, under the penalties for perjury, that the forgoing representation(s) is (are) true.

“On [Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025], at approximately 0233 hours, Chesterton Police Department patrol units were dispatched to South 18th Street in Chesterton, Porter County, Ind., regarding a report of a female subject on the front porch covered in blood and screaming for help. Upon arrival, officers located a female later identified as V1. V1 was visibly bleeding from the head, appeared disoriented, and showed obvious signs of significant trauma. Medical personnel were immediately requested. V1 identified her boyfriend as Ian Patrick Toole and stated that Ian shot her inside their shared residence on South 18th Street apartment, during an altercation. V1 stated that after being shot, she fled out the front door to the neighboring apartment to seek help while Ian remained inside their apartment. Medical personnel observed what appeared to be a bullet fragment lodged in V1’s hair, with the wound located on the top left portion of her head. V1 was transported by ambulance to South Bend Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment. Chesterton Police patrol units then established a secure perimeter around [the residence] and requested the assistance of the Porter County Emergency Response Team (ERT) due to the presence of an armed suspect still inside the residence.

“A witness who had fled the residence prior to police arrival reported that a gathering had taken place at the apartment that evening and believed several people were still inside. Over the course of several hours, Porter County ERT attempted to contact occupants using sirens, loudspeaker announcements, and by deploying drones and robotic equipment into the residence. One of the drones was intentionally destroyed by Ian Toole while inside.

“Witness statements were consistent that a large amount of alcohol had been consumed throughout the evening and that several individuals intended to stay overnight. As the gathering ended, the remaining individuals went to separate rooms to sleep. Shortly afterward, witnesses reported hearing a heated verbal argument between Ian Toole and V1 concerning accusations of infidelity. Witnesses stated they heard loud crashing noises and what sounded like items being thrown. Witnesses then reported hearing what sounded like multiple gunshots. One witness immediately fled the residence. Two witnesses who were upstairs briefly opened the bedroom door and encountered Ian, who apologized before returning to his bedroom. They observed Ian sitting on the floor of his bedroom, which appeared to be in disarray. One witness also observed blood near the front door. These witnesses then fled out the side door. None of the witnesses reported seeing the actual shooting.

“Ian remained inside the residence and refused to comply with repeated lawful orders to exit. After it was confirmed that all uninvolved individuals were out of the apartment, OC gas was deployed into the upstairs portion of the residence where Ian was believed to be concealing himself. At approximately 0650 hours, Ian Toole surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident. Porter County Crime Scene Detectives then processed the residence. A .380 caliber black handgun was located on the living room floor near the front door. Three spent .380 caliber shell casings and three live .380 rounds were located inside the residence. Two bullet holes were located in the drywall near the front door. A cellphone believed to belong to V1 was located on the floor with damage consistent with a bullet passing through it. Fragments consistent with cellphone parts were located in blood deposits near the front door. Evidence suggests that V1 was holding her cellphone and raised her hands defensively when the firearm was discharged, causing the bullet to pass through the cellphone and into her skull. The trajectory of the rounds was consistent with V1’s account that Ian was standing near the kitchen/living room area approximately 10 feet from her location when the shots were fired. A fourth .380 casing was located outside near the front door. However, information was obtained that Ian previously discharged the same handgun outside his apartment at an unoccupied vehicle he was upset was in ‘his’ parking space.

“Detectives responded to South Bend Memorial Hospital and interviewed V1. V1 reported that she and Ian returned home after celebrating his birthday at a bar in Portage with friends. V1 stated that she later observed a text message on Ian’s phone from another female and confronted him about infidelity. V1 stated Ian became enraged and began striking her multiple times in the face and head while they were upstairs in their bedroom. V1 reported that Ian threw her to the floor and applied pressure to her neck, choking her to the point where she could not breathe. Detectives and medical staff observed redness and injuries consistent with her account, including bruising and swelling to the face, redness to the neck and throat area, abrasions to the right forearm, and bruising to both legs. V1 stated that she scratched Ian’s face with her right hand in self-defense, breaking off multiple artificial fingernails. V1 stated she was able to flee downstairs toward the front door with the intention of escaping the residence and contacting police. V1 reported that while she was near the front entrance, Ian shot her. V1 recalled falling to the ground and stated Ian attempted to place the handgun into her right hand. V1 stated she believed Ian was attempting to stage the scene to appear that she had shot herself. V1 stated she pushed the firearm away and fled to the neighboring apartment for help.

“Medical personnel confirmed V1 sustained a gunshot wound to the top left portion of her skull resulting in a skull fracture. A bullet fragment and metallic debris consistent with cellphone components were recovered from her skull. Eight staples were required to close the wound.

“At approximately 1318 hours, detectives interviewed Ian Toole. Ian was advised of his Miranda Rights and agreed to speak to detectives without an attorney present. Ian admitted consuming a large amount of alcohol throughout the day and evening, estimating that he consumed at least twenty beers and multiple shots. Ian reported that he had consumed a large amount of alcohol the night before, but stated he was not presently under the influence and did not feel impaired. Ian acknowledged that he and V1 argued about accusations of cheating and admitted that the confrontation became physical, stating he restrained V1 by her arms. Ian claimed that he later passed out in the bedroom and did not recall the shooting or subsequent events until awakening to OC gas deployment and police commands. When confronted with V1’s statements and the physical evidence, Ian stated he did not remember any of it, but stated that V1 is truthful and that if she reported the events occurred, then they occurred.

“Based on the foregoing facts and circumstances, I believe that V1 and the witnesses are credible and reliable, as they spoke to matters within their personal knowledge, and the information provided by them is corroborated by physical evidence, medical findings, and scene documentation.

“I believe that Ian Toole is in part credible and reliable because he spoke of matters within his own personal knowledge and the information provided by him has been confirmed and corroborated by other evidence in this case and he spoke against his penal interest.

“By reason of the above, I have cause to request the issuance of an arrest warrant for Toole, Ian Patrick, for the offenses of Attempted Murder, one count, as a Level 1 felony; Aggravated Battery, one count, as a Level 3 felony; Domestic Battery, one count, as a Level 5 felony; and Strangulation, one count, as a Level 6 felony.”