Three dead, seven wounded after holiday block party

A festive Fourth of July block party in Gary ended in tragedy early Tuesday when gunfire rang out killing three people and injuring seven others.

The Lake County coroner’s office identified the victims as Ashanti Brown, 20, of Olympia Fields, Ill.; Laurence Mangum, 25, of Merrillville and Marquise Hall, 26, of Lafayette.

The coroner’s release said each victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Gary police responded to the shooting about 12:45 a.m. in the 1900 block of Missouri Street in the old Marshalltown neighborhood, just north of 21st Avenue.

Police found the three victims unresponsive and the coroner’s office pronounced them dead at the scene. The gunshot victims were taken to area hospitals by first responders, as well as personal cars, police said.

Gary police sought assistance from surrounding law enforcement agencies due to the enormity of the scene, said Lt. Dawn Westerfield in a release.

The investigation is ongoing and police ask anyone with information to contact the Metro Homicide Unit, 219-755-3855 or the crime tip line at 866-274-6347.

Neighbors said the block party is an annual Fourth of July celebration with food and fireworks. One neighbor said an entire pickup bed was filled with fireworks that were set off at dusk in a vacant lot.

They said about 150 people attended the event.

The shootings took place on the north end of the block. Just a small scrap of yellow crime tape remained Tuesday afternoon.

Neighbor Betty Green said neighbors host the party for children on the block. She said she helped organize it and cook food.

She was already inside her home when the shooting erupted.

“I hate it with a passion. I hate to see my people leaving,” she said.

Gary Mayor Jerome Prince said crime remains his top concern.

“I am heartbroken and outraged that we continue to lose Gary residents to needless violence including those who have not reached adulthood. I never stop thinking about the victims and their families, and the incredible loss these senseless deaths leave.”

Prince hopes new measures can reduce violence and create safer communities.

“We are committed to doing everything in our power to prevent and reduce gun violence, including investing in anti-violence initiatives that both address the immediate crisis and tackle the systemic, root causes of violence,” he said.

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