Two young men allegedly told a witness to lure Jack Daniel, a rival drug dealer, in March 2018 to a Gary apartment complex so they could rob him, court documents state.
But the incident escalated, the probable cause affidavit alleges, and they ended up shooting him dead as he tried to escape.
Rashad McCoy, 28, formerly of Gary, and Willie “Scottie” Wallace, 26, were each charged June 24 with two counts of murder, one count of attempted armed robbery, attempted robbery resulting in bodily injury, attempted robbery, plus gun enhancements.
McCoy is currently incarcerated at the Westville Correctional Facility on a cocaine dealing case. Police recently arrested Wallace in Wisconsin and he is awaiting extradition.
Their case was unsealed Monday.
On March 11, 2018, Gary Police responded to the 5100 block of Georgia Street.
There, they found Jack Daniel, 19, of Hebron, shot three times and slumped over in a gold Astro van.
He was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m., according to a release. His death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators found eight 9-mm casings around the van and five marijuana baggies, a scale inside, records state.. They tied fingerprints on the van’s front passenger door to McCoy and determined that two guns were used.
Hobart Police Assistant Chief Nick Wardrip, a cold case investigator, wrote that one bullet casing from the scene matched another found the next day in McCoy’s backyard near the 300 block of E. 52nd Ave. He was arrested nearby in a blue Dodge Dart on a pending warrant.
Police learned the plan wasn’t to kill Daniel, just rob him, according to the affidavit.
As Daniel sat in the van with the witness, McCoy and Wallace approached with weapons. When one tried to open Daniel’s door, it was locked, court records state. They started shooting in the van.
Police stated they fired 8 or 9 shoots, the affidavit states. Daniel started putting the van in reverse, saying he couldn’t feel his legs. The witness jumped out and got into the blue car before it escaped, records show.
At Westville, McCoy told Wardrip he didn’t know Daniel or Wallace. Wardrip pressed on how his fingerprints were on the van, records state.
McCoy responded he “brushed” against it and the other bullet casing was fired on New Year’s. He claimed he sold the gun “back then,” but didn’t remember the type, the affidavit states.
Wardrip subpoenaed Wallace’s Facebook account, which showed the pair communicated shortly before the slaying. Wallace asked him that day where he was, records state.
“Waiting on (someone) to pull up little bro,” McCoy wrote.
More Top Picks Best Drip Irrigation Kits For Raised Beds
A second witness picked McCoy in a photo lineup, court records state. Wardrip wrote he had poor quality picture stills depicting the van and blue car at the scene.
McCoy’s earliest release date from Westville is in November 2027.
Anyone with more information can reach Wardrip at 219-900-4388.