Man shot to death inside St. John, Indiana business

ST. JOHN, Ind. (WLS) -- A man was shot to death in St. John, Ind., Wednesday morning.

Christopher Badten, 59, of Dyer was killed inside the Eagle Creek Machine Company in the 9600-block of Industrial Drive, police said.

Police say they received a call about the shooting around 6 a.m. Wednesday. When they arrived at the scene minutes later, they encountered the 47-year-old suspect, from nearby Hebron, Ind., walking out of the building with a weapon in hand.

When police told the suspect to freeze he refused, beginning a short standoff.

"A short time after the arrival of our officers, they observed a subject exit the building with a weapon," said St. John Police Chief Fred Frego. "They ordered him to drop the weapon, he did not, he pointed the weapon at himself and at that time an approximately 30 minute standoff occurred."

Police found Badten's body inside. They say he is a longtime employee of the company, which is very small with only three employees.

Police say the suspect did not work at the company, but was a longtime acquaintance of Badten's.

Two other employees were inside the business at the time of the homicide, but they escaped unharmed. Police say charges are expected to be filed Thursday.