Hammond Police are investigating three shootings that occurred within 19 hours of each other.
A 20-year old East Chicago man reported to police that he was walking in the 100 block of Sibley Street around 5 p.m. Dec. 27 when he heard shots fired. The man said he was hit once in the left arm before waving down a passerby who got him to a local hospital, Hammond Police spokesman Lt. Rich Hoyda said in a release. His injuries aren’t considered life-threatening, Hoyda said.
The victim said he saw a red compact car speeding away from the scene after he was shot, Hoyda said.
A second shooting was reported at 12:46 p.m. Wednesday, according to Hoyda. One victim, an 18-year-old man was shot in the chest; the second, a 17-year-old Hammond man who lived at the location was shot in the left arm and chest. The shooting occurred inside of an apartment building in the 6500 block of Grand Avenue in the city’s Hessville section.
The 17-year-old victim said he had come out of his apartment and was still inside the building when the shooting occurred, a release said. No information on the assailant was available. Both victims were transported to a local trauma hospital where they were undergoing treatment, a report said.
Later Wednesday evening, Hammond officers responded to a shots-fired call at 9:09 p.m. in the 4900 Block of Elm Avenue. There, they learned a 17-year-old boy was shot in the right leg, and his 22-year-old brother, who lives in East Chicago, suffered a graze wound to the right side of his chest, Hoyda said. Both injuries were considered non-life threatening, and a family member took both victims to a local hospital, he said.
Both victims in that shooting said they saw a tan-colored vehicle pull up on the street just prior to the shooting, a report said. Hoyda said one person was described as a Hispanic male who was seen inside of that vehicle.
Anyone with information on the Sibley Street shooting is asked to contact Detective Sgt. James Lietz at 219-852-2983. Anyone with information on the Elm Avenue shooting should contact Detective Lt. Mark Tharp at 219-852-2906.
Michelle Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.