Family member of Gary Mayor Jerome Prince among shooting victims at holiday block party

A family member of Mayor Jerome Prince died early Tuesday in a mass shooting at a holiday block party.

A release from Prince’s office said one of the three victims was his cousin, Marquise Hall, 26, of Lafayette.

“On Monday, my family joined too many others when we lost a family member to gun violence. My cousin, Marquise Hall, was one of three people shot and killed in Gary. He was only 26,” Prince said in a statement.

The Lake County coroner’s office identified the other two victims as Ashanti Brown, 20, of Olympia Fields, Illinois, and Laurence Mangum, 25, of Merrillville. All three died from multiple gunshot wounds, the coroner said.

Seven people also suffered gunshot wounds in the gunfire that erupted after a festive holiday block party in the 1900 block of Missouri Street.

Police arrived to the scene about 12:45 a.m.

Neighbors said the shooting erupted on the north end of the street after they had their own fireworks display in a vacant lot on the street’s south end.

Gary police called in police from other neighboring communities to assist in the crime scene.

Police didn’t provide an update on the investigation Wednesday.

“Our family is heartbroken and outraged at this loss. Obviously, this hits close to home,” Prince said.

“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.”

Prince reiterated that public safety is his top priority as mayor. He’s hopeful new anti-crime initiatives take root as the city continues its battle with street violence that’s already claimed the lives of dozens of residents this year, including a homicide on Tuesday.

The Lake County Coroner’s office said Jose Diaz, 52, died from multiple gunshot wounds outside in the 3800 block of Van Buren Street. The coroner’s office pronounced him dead at 10:34 a.m.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.