Ryan Askew was a 59-year-old security officer at Community Hospital in Munster and a retired commander with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. On June 16, 2020, he and his partner, Benny Freeman, responded to a Code Yellow for a combative patient, 22-year-old Jamal Williams, who had attacked a nurse and then turned on the security team. During the struggle Williams put Askew in a severe chokehold, lifted him off the ground and struck him repeatedly; witnesses said Askew drifted in and out of consciousness while the assault continued.

Freeman fired two shots to stop the attacker. One bullet struck Williams in the face, killing him; another struck Askew in the arm, traveled into his chest and proved fatal. Hospital staff rendered immediate aid, but Askew died at the scene. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office investigated and concluded Freeman had fired in an attempt to save Askew; no charges were filed, the shooting was described as friendly fire, Williams’ death was ruled a justifiable homicide and Askew’s death was ruled accidental.