Prosecutors signaled Wednesday they want life in prison without parole for the alleged Portside Pub killer, court filings show.
Caprice Cashaw, 32, of Merrillville, is accused of killing bartender Paul Olivares, 25, of Whiting, and longtime patron Lorraine Reyna, 59, of Whiting. Olivares was shot in the head, while Reyna sustained numerous gunshot wounds.
Cashaw’s girlfriend, who survived with two others, was shot 10 times.
Deputy Prosecutors Infinity Westberg and Chris Bruno filed amended information for two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder — his current charges — then added a notice for life imprisonment for Olivares and Reyna’s deaths.
The filing is a potential sign they could seek a plea deal. A change of plea hearing scheduled for Wednesday was cancelled. A status hearing was reset for June 3. The victims’ families declined to. comment.
Cashaw’s lawyer Bob Varga also declined comment.
Court filings show Cashaw left the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond on March 30, 2025 after losing several thousand dollars, an affidavit states.
He was “mad” and took it out on his girlfriend and started beating her while driving back from the casino.
He pulled over randomly in front of the Portside Pub, 1516 Indianapolis Blvd., to keep assaulting her. Four people in the bar stepped outside to help her — setting the evening’s events in motion.
When the girlfriend tried to run, he opened fire, killing Olivares and Reyna.
In addition to Cashaw’s girlfriend, police found another man on his hands and knees, who was shot multiple times. Another woman was shot in the leg while hiding in a walk-in cooler.
Portside Pub closed in May 2025 after its owner retired. It reopened in January.
“Paul and Lorrie both had hearts of gold and truly loved people,” according to the bar’s Facebook post just after the shooting. “They were great people who were so kind to everyone and with their big hearts they would never hesitate to help someone.”
“Lorrie was known for a long time for her generosity and the way she always made you feel like a friend. Both will never be forgotten,” it said. “They taught us a lot about how to conduct ourselves in this world.”
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The bar’s footage, without audio, showed a dark Chrysler 300 pull up and park just north of the bar’s entrance around 3:44 a.m. A man — whom Cashaw said was him — got out and beat the girlfriend.
She tried to run, but he forced her back inside the vehicle.
Just then, Reyna appeared to hear what was happening outside. She went to look, then went back in the bar, “distressed,” according to the affidavit.
All four of the people at the bar — Reyna, Olivares, and the other man and woman who were wounded — went outside where Cashaw’s girlfriend was screaming for help.
“What’s going on,” Olivares said, according to footage from another security camera.
“Get inside the bar,” Olivares said.
The other man and woman went inside and closed the door.
Open the door, Olivares is heard saying over and over.
Cashaw appears to open fire, shooting Olivares. He shoots Reyna in the back, records show. The affidavit stated he fired around 20 rounds outside.
The girlfriend ran and collapsed halfway inside. Cashaw fired into the bar with a semi-automatic gun.
In the footage inside the bar, the other wounded man is seen clutching his stomach. The other woman is holding her leg. Sparks erupt from bar stools hit by bullets.
Cashaw walks past the girlfriend — he later told police he thought she was dead — and goes out of camera view, then removes an empty 30-round magazine from his gun.
In total, he fires four shots in the bar, there’s a 20-second break, before another gunshot is heard. He looks at his girlfriend again, then leaves.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.