A Gary man has been charged with murder after he admitted to shooting the victim because he thought the man was going to kill him for farting in a liquor store.
Gary Police responded around 10 p.m. August 19 to a homicide near Thumbs Up Bar, 620 South Lake Street, according to an affidavit. The victim, who the Lake County Coroner’s office identified as Robert Gaskin Jr., was lying unresponsive near Old Miller Road after getting shot three times, court records said.
Officers had detained Darren Michael Bryant Jr., also of Gary, after he made several statements saying he was the shooter and that “someone tried to kill him over a fart,” according to the affidavit.
Witnesses told police that Gaskins arrived at the bar and was greeting everyone when he attempted to shake Bryant’s hand and give him a hug when Bryant — whose gun witnesses said was visible — shot him, records said. Bryant then fled the bar and ran into the woods, falling into a swamp, where he left the gun and was why he was in boxers and socks when police found him, records said.
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Bryant told police during questioning that he’d farted at the liquor store and got kicked out. He went back to apologize to the clerk, but an altercation broke out, so he left and went to the bar “because he didn’t want to shoot anyone,” the affidavit said. He said he was waiting on a ride when he saw someone “wearing the same color” — Gaskin — who approached him.
When Gaskin said to him, “You look familiar,” Bryant said he pulled his gun and shot him, records said. Bryant said Gaskin didn’t threaten him.
Police are still looking for the gun and Bryant’s clothes, according to the affidavit.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.