Gary firefighters with visitors to Night Out Against Crime

Gun violence skyrockets

Contributed By:The 411 News

When the City of Gary marked National Night Out Against Crime in 2014, the death of Gary Police Officer Jeffrey Westerfield, slain while on duty, hung over the event established to highlight crime prevention awareness

As the city began Tuesday’s Night Out, 4 homicides during the weekend punctuated the observance. Gary Police have a person in custody for one of the homicides, that one connected to a domestic dispute.

Speaking to the gathering at Pittman Square Park, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson received a rousing response with her first statements, “We are not criminals!” and “If you see something, say something!”

The rash of homicides had occupied much of the mayor’s day. She and Gary Police Chief Larry McKinley held a press conference earlier Tuesday to address the wave of murders. “We are alarmed by the surge of violent crimes recently occurring in our city. We have experienced three shootings and 2 homicides in the past 24 hours and 6 homicides in the past week. This is absolutely unacceptable,” the mayor said.

By Thursday afternoon, Gary Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Tom Decanter reported 2 more victims.

Responding to a call of shots fired in the 1100 block of Lane Street on Gary’s west side at 11:50 Thursday morning, Gary police found the bodies of two 18-year-olds. They were identified as James Powell, of the 2400 block of Whitcomb in Gary, and Raymond Washington-Whitehead of Merrillville. Both died of gunshot wounds.

Untonise Harper, age 22 of the 2300 block of Georgia, Gary, suffered fatal gunshot wounds while sitting in his auto near the Link Bar, the morning of Sunday, August 2. Gary Police answered a call for assistance soon after the bar closed, because of a disturbance between patrons outside. According to the Post-Tribune, witnesses told police shots were fired into Harper’s vehicle by occupants of a white Chevy Tahoe. Gary Police located a Chevy Tahoe in the vicinity and took 4 occupants into custody, but they were released later that day. Police seized a 9mm handgun from the Tahoe.

Valerie Gonzalez, age 27 of the 100 Block of W. 107th St, Chicago, IL, was 1 of two gunshot victims found when Gary Police responded to a call near 25th Avenue and Clark Road at 8 p.m., Monday, August 3. Gonzalez did not survive, but the second victim, a male who had a gun wound to the head is in stable condition.

Alex McCloud, age 44 of the 2100 block of Delaware Pl., Gary, was found in his vehicle with gunshot wounds when police answered a call in the 500 block of Roosevelt Street. Sgt. Decanter reported that McCloud’s death may have resulted during a domestic dispute when he dropped his child at the home of his ex-wife. Police have a suspect in custody and the case has gone to the Lake County Prosecutor.

Of the six, the death of Daja Brookshire, a 15-year-old Gary West Side student killed in a drive-by shooting on Sunday, August 2, illustrates the persistent and senseless violence on Gary streets. According to Sgt. Decanter, the driver of the car in which Daja was a passenger told police that they were exiting their vehicle at 7th and Adams Street about 9:30 p.m. when gunshots were fired from a passing vehicle.

Brookshire is the granddaughter of Pastor Chet Johnson of New Tabernacle Baptist Church in Gary. Pastor Johnson also heads the Fuller Center in Gary – the city’s faith-based housing partner helping to redevelop the 2300 and 2400 blocks of Jackson Street.

The Fuller Center’s Phyllis Barlow said memorial services for Daja will be held starting with a wake service on Tuesday, August 11 and funeral on Wednesday, August 12.

Sponsored by local police departments, August 4 was National Night Out across the country. Created to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, National Night Out works to generate citizen participation in anti-crime efforts and strengthen partnerships between police and the communities they serve.

Pittman Square Park filled the bill of what a night out against crime should be – all ages enjoying an evening in the park, performances, music, balloons, and refreshments, along with a strong message about crime prevention.

Story Posted:08/07/2015