The police investigation continues into the shooting death of an East Chicago man in Hammond on Friday evening.
Hammond police found Shermane Sargent, 20, with a gunshot wound to his chest around 8:30 p.m. in an alley in the 6700 block of New Jersey Street, according to a news release from the department. He was lying just outside of a vehicle that had been stolen out of Calumet City, Ill.
Hammond firefighters transported the man to Methodist Hospital’s Gary campus, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call Det. Sgt. Scott Jajowka at 219-852-2989 or Det. Joe Munoz at 219-852-2995.
Sargent’s is the fourth shooting death in Lake County in 2018. Gary officers around 5:45 p.m., Jan. 4, found a man shot in the face in the 800 block of South Lake Street. The Lake County Coroner’s Office declared Terrence Conley, 55, of Gary, dead at the scene, ruling his death a homicide.
Around 2:45 a.m. Jan. 5, police received a call for shots fired in the 2100 block of Harrison Street in Gary. A man told officers his friend was shot inside a residence, and that the man was shot multiple times, police said.
The coroner’s office declared Louis Watson, 25, of Gary, dead at the scene, ruling his death a homicide as well.
Shortly after 5 a.m., Jan. 5, the coroner’s office was called to the 4300 block of Roosevelt Street in Gary, where Shawn Magerski, 36, of Gary, was found shot, according to a release. Magerski’s death was also ruled a homicide, the coroner’s office said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the shooting.
Post-Tribune reporter Becky Jacobs contributed.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.