Joseph Navarro, 50, crashed and was shot after allegedly firing at police in Hammond, Indiana. The incident began in Hegewisch when Chicago officers responded to a report of a person with a gun, prompting a high-speed, cross-state pursuit. Chicago police received a call on May 8, 2025, close to 6 PM, and responded to a person-with-a-gun call in South Baltimore. The neighbour who sent out the call revealed that he had been shot by Navarro weeks ago, and that he was back with two guns, threatening his family once again. Officers spotted Navarro and tried to stop him. However, Navarro fled the scene in his vehicle.
His high-speed attempted escape saw him cross state lines. He began racing towards the Indiana State Line. Navarro’s vehicle only stopped after it crashed and flipped upside-down. Surveillance cameras captured the crash at the Hammond intersection from multiple angles. Officers then ordered Navarro to show his hands, prompting the 50-year-old to crawl out of his vehicle. This was recorded by the dashcam, as reported by several sources.
However, Navarro, instead of surrendering, took up arms and began firing at officers. Officers returned fire, moving towards the upturned vehicle, which caused Navarro to back into a corner. Navarro was struck multiple times. He was transported to St. Catherine Hospital. He was pronounced dead by 6:44 PM that evening.
Court and police records show that Navarro was a suspect in an aggravated battery, which involved a handgun, that occurred on April 13, 2025. According to the 911 caller, there might have been a fugitive task force that was actively looking for Navarro. His death was ruled a homicide, as revealed by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
Reports confirm Joseph Navarro died following a police exchange of gunfire, where he was hit multiple times. However, an official autopsy confirming gunshot wounds as the primary cause of death remains unverified. The officers who were caught in the shootout were not struck by gunfire.
Officers who were involved have been placed on a 30-day administrative leave as the incident is investigated, per department policy. Investigators were immediately dispatched to the scene. A video of the scene was posted online by Midwest Crime three days ago on YouTube, which combines surveillance footage and police bodycam footage to discuss the entire incident. Comments under the video had a lot of things to say about Navarro and the incident as a whole.
One comment read, “I feel bad for Chicago PD. I’ve never watched bodycam from them where anything went even remotely okay. It’s always a trainwreck of epic proportions.”
Another comment noted, “I’m glad the cops were ok, but wow. Between dispatch apparently speaking a different language and these cops making interesting choices.”
A third comment stated, “I remember this one; this was last year. I can’t believe how these guys were shooting toward passing cars and fumbled this whole thing.”
