Prosecutors consider charging two teen suspects in post-graduation shooting as adults – Chicago Tribune

Two juveniles arrested in reference to a shooting at U.S. Steel Yard after West Side Leadership Academy’s Sunday night commencement might be charged as adults.

Lake County Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Myrna Maldonado stated in an electronic mail Monday that the two boys — ages 16 and 17 — are each in the Lake County Juvenile Center with pending prison recklessness and harmful possession of a firearm fees. Prosecutors are “in the process of reviewing the evidence to determine if one or both of the juveniles will be charged as adults,” she stated.

Charges towards the third suspect — a 20-year-old Hammond man — have but to be filed as Gary police proceed to interview witnesses and assessment video footage, Gary Police spokesman Commander Jack Hamady stated Monday in an electronic mail. The division’s forensics workforce can be evaluating handgun cartridges to those recovered from the southeast aspect of the Steel Yard, Hamady stated.

Meanwhile, the situation of the 19-year-old man who bought shot in the chest in the course of the shooting was unclear Monday. Linda Hadley, director of promoting and communication for Methodist Hospitals, stated through textual content Monday there have been “no shooting victims at the hospital at this time” and that there have been no inpatient admissions associated to the shooting.

A second individual — a lady, 19 — was shot in the ankle in the course of the shooting that occurred simply exterior U.S. Steel Yard a number of yards away from the stadium’s entrance on the southeast aspect, Gary Police spokesman Cmdr. Jack Hamady stated Sunday evening. A 3rd individual sustained accidents in the incident and was handled on the scene by medics, in line with Gary Police spokesperson Lt. Dawn Westerfield.

Patrick A. Salvi, proprietor and CEO of the Gary SouthShore RailCats, in an announcement Monday referred to as the occasions on the conclusion of the Westside commencement “reprehensible.”

“It is extremely unfortunate, and we hope for a quick recovery for everyone involved,” Salvi stated. “In the team’s 20-year history in Gary, there have been no shooting incidents during the RailCats games, which are mostly played in the evening.

“RailCats fans should continue to feel safe and secure attending our games, as we continue to prioritize our fans, employees and stakeholders’ safety. We pride ourselves on providing (a) safe game day experience just as we have for the past 20 years and will continue to update our safety plan with our security team.”

Nearly 200 college students have been scheduled to graduate in the course of the ceremony, which began at 4 p.m. Graduates and friends have been exiting the stadium when photographs erupted exterior of the stadium.

Hamady stated Sunday he obtained a name from Gary Community School Corporation’s head of safety, Cliff Caldwell, asking for help as a result of a combat had damaged out as folks have been leaving the commencement ceremonies round 5:32 p.m., although eyewitness accounts indicated a combat broke out in the stands in the course of the earlier festivities. The combat was damaged up by safety, and it’s unclear if it was linked to the shooting after the ceremony.

Caldwell had a safety workforce as properly as Lake County Police officers working the occasion, Hamady stated.

As Gary officers arrived, they discovered the male sufferer in the center of Fifth Avenue with a gunshot to the chest, Hamady stated. The 19-year-old man was taken to Methodist Hospital’s Northlake campus, Hamady stated. At 6:14 p.m., police took one individual with a handgun into custody.

Hamady stated 4 detectives have been on scene; preliminary studies point out there have been no weapons in the stadium in the course of the ceremony and that the suspects parked their vehicles — and their weapons — throughout the road in the Calumet Township Assessor’s parking zone. They then left the stadium and got here again with the weapons, he stated.

Hamady stated police have been speaking with the shooting victims as properly as 4 different witnesses Sunday evening. A motive has but to be established, he stated.

Gary Community School Corporation Manager Paige McNulty in an announcement expressed dismay over the shooting Sunday evening.

“A day that was meant for celebration has now been marked by tragedy through senseless acts of gun violence,” McNulty stated. “During the entire graduation, our students conducted themselves in an excellent manner. Meanwhile, the disruptive actions of a few overshadowed their special moment.

“Thankfully, the offenders have been apprehended, but it doesn’t change the hurt and disappointment our students, families and school community are now feeling. Our prayers are with those injured, and we continue to extend our congratulations to WSLA graduates. They deserve it.”

GCSC on Monday referred all questions concerning the shooting and its safety protocols to the Gary Police Department.

Gary Mayor Jerome Prince is dedicated to holding to account these chargeable for the shooting.

“It’s infuriating to me to hear of violence and injuries on a special night for our young people and their families. I pray for a full and speedy recovery for anyone who was injured,” Prince stated. “At this point, this is an ongoing investigation, but I assure everyone our Gary Police Department and law enforcement partners will use all available resources to get to the bottom of this incident.

“We will not cede our community to people who jeopardize our residents through their senseless, violent means.”

Freelance reporter Carrie Napoleon contributed to this report.