Merrillville, IN – Authorities in Lake County are seeking the public’s help to track down two suspects following a shooting incident linked to a basketball game altercation. The event unfolded on Saturday, April 13th, post-1:30 p.m., at the Tiberon Trails apartment complex located at 1240 W. 52nd Drive in unincorporated Merrillville.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, an argument started among a group of young men, possibly in their early 20s, who were playing basketball at the complex. The situation escalated when one individual, observed walking away from the court and driving out of the parking lot, was allegedly targeted by another man from the group. The man reportedly showcased a handgun, chased the car on foot, and opened fire. A second man is also believed to have used a firearm during the incident. While the intended target was not hit, a stray bullet struck a 59-year-old man in a nearby building, injuring his leg; he is expected to recover.
Descriptions of the suspects have been provided: The first is a black male with a medium complexion, seen wearing red sweatpants and no shirt, and believed to have left in a white early 2000s Buick sedan. The second is a black male dressed in a red or orange hooded sweatshirt with black pants or jogging shorts, seen leaving in a silver or light grey Toyota Camry.
The Lake County Sheriff, Oscar Martinez Jr., highlighted the presence of multiple witnesses at the time of the incident, including a bystander with a child, and is urging anyone with information to contact the department. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the LCSO Tip411 hotline or the Sheriff’s Department’s Report-A-Crime Hotline.
