Boy found dead, suspect in custody – NBC Chicago

A 2-year-old boy was found dead and a suspect was taken into custody after a SWAT team standoff that lasted more than 18 hours in northern Indiana, authorities said.

The situation began around 9:06 p.m. Saturday at a home in Elkhart, about 15 miles east of South Bend. Officers arrived to check on the welfare of a man and his children but were initially unable to reach the man, police said.

Sheriff’s deputies later learned that the man was armed and had threatened to harm both his children and the police officers.

At around 12:09 a.m. Sunday, the Elkhart County Regional SWAT team attempted to make contact with the man, but at that point he refused to leave the home, fired a weapon and then barricaded himself inside the home, authorities said.

The incident continued into the daylight hours, during which the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team was called for assistance. After numerous attempts to reach the man throughout the morning and afternoon that met with “little success,” state police entered the home and took the suspect into custody.

Emergency responders discovered a 2-year-old boy dead inside the home, authorities said. A 4-year-old girl was found alive and treated at the scene. She was released to a relative, state police said.

The man was identified as Ryan Snyder, 37, police said. Snyder was evaluated at a local hospital before being booked into the Elkhart County Jail. More information on

The Elkhart County District Attorney’s Office will review the case to pursue charges against Snyder, authorities said.