Cousin of Gary mayor among 3 killed at block party mass shooting
CHICAGO - The three people killed in a mass shooting in Gary, Indiana Tuesday have been identified.
The gunfire erupted during a block party shortly before 1 a.m., wounding 10 people in total.
The mayor of Gary released a statement saying his cousin was one of the three people fatally shot.
"My cousin, Marquise Hall, was one of three people shot and killed in Gary. He was only 26," said Mayor Jerome Prince.
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Police arrived at the scene of the shooting around 12:46 a.m. in the 1900 block of Missouri Street and found 10 people with gunshot wounds. Three of them were unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials.
The other gunshot victims were taken to local hospitals by ambulance and as well as personal cars, police said. Their conditions were unknown.
"I don’t have a police report or anything. My daughter stayed on ground in the rain for three hours before the coroner came", said Monek Turner, mother of Ashanti Brown.
Brown, 20, from Olympia Fields, had just completed her pharmacy tech certification and was weeks away from beginning clinical training. Her mother said she wanted to be a nurse and open up her own clinic.
Witnesses tell FOX 32 Chicago that two vehicles drove by, both with multiple people inside, firing several gunshots at the crowd of bystanders.
The victims are all believed to be innocent bystanders, per authorities.
Hall, 26, from Lafayette, Ind., was anticipating marrying his fiance.
Lawrence Magnum, 25, from Merrillville, Ind., was described as a "church boy" and avid drummer.
As the country remains stunned by the massacre in Highland Park, with federal aid and other resources now provided, families in Gary say they too need help as the gunman remains at large.
"Our family is heartbroken and outraged at this loss. Obviously, this hits close to home. However, we're also angry and frustrated at the fact we continue to lose Gary residents to needless violence, including young people gunned down before they even reach adulthood. I never stop thinking about the victims and their families and the incredible losses these senseless deaths leave," said Mayor Prince.
Gary police are investigating. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Metro Homicide Unit at 219-755-3855 or the Crime Tip Line at 866-CRIME-GP.