East Chicago man in Hammond-to-Chicago chase charged with murder in Sept. 12 shooting

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. — The East Chicago man arrested after a high-speed chase from Hammond into Chicago is now charged with murder in a Sept. 12 liquor-store shooting, Lake County prosecutors announced Oct. 1.

Key facts

What prosecutors say happened

Region News Source, citing the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force and the probable-cause affidavit, reported that East Chicago police responded to the 3800 block of Euclid Avenue for a shooting. Investigators allege the events began with a domestic dispute involving Williams and a woman near Tuna’s Tap / Euclid Liquors.

Per that affidavit narrative as published by Region News Source: the woman told investigators she argued with Williams, that he left in her red Chevrolet Malibu without permission, then chased her on foot, struck her, and took her cellphone. Surveillance reviewed by investigators captured screaming around 10:30 p.m. Jones was then seen approaching and asking if she was okay before walking away; minutes later investigators reported hearing gunshots. Jones was found with a chest gunshot wound and later died; a preliminary autopsy attributed death to that wound (Region News Source).

ABC7 Chicago independently reported Oct. 2 that prosecutors say Williams was beating another person when Jones approached and Williams shot him, and that Jones’s family said he leaves behind a 10-year-old son.

These remain accusations. Williams has not been convicted in this reporting.

How this connects to the Sept. 22 chase

Region N3’s Sept. 23 chase story covered Indiana State Police’s account that Williams fled a Hammond stop and crashed in Chicago on Sept. 22, then was booked into Cook County Jail pending extradition on Lake County warrants. Region News Source’s Oct. 1 package says Williams remained wanted on the homicide investigation until investigators developed information he was staying in Hammond, and credits ISP geolocation detectives and SWAT with helping locate and arrest him — the same Sept. 22 apprehension already on Region N3’s record.

The Times of Northwest Indiana (Maya Liquigan, Oct. 1) likewise reported Williams was charged with multiple felonies including murder, attempted murder, and robbery tied to the East Chicago shooting.

Charge list (as published Oct. 1)

Region News Source listed 17 counts filed Oct. 1, including:

• Murder
• Attempted murder (Level 1 felony)
• Two counts of robbery resulting in bodily injury (Level 3)
• Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (Level 4)
• Robbery by putting someone in fear (Level 5); robbery by use or threatened use of force (Level 5)
• Resisting law enforcement by vehicle creating substantial risk of bodily injury (Level 5)
• Domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury (Level 6); domestic battery with a prior battery conviction (Level 6)
• Auto theft (Level 6); resisting by vehicle (Level 6); resisting by fleeing (Class A misdemeanor)
• Domestic battery, theft (Class A misdemeanors); criminal vandalism (Class B); reckless driving (Class C)

Region News Source, citing the affidavit, also reported prior felony convictions for battery (2014) and burglary (2010), and that Williams was out on bond in a separate Level 3 burglary case at the time of the alleged Sept. 12 offenses — affidavit allegations, not new convictions.

What’s next

Extradition from Cook County back to Lake County was already the open question on the chase story; the Oct. 1 murder package raises the stakes for that return. Detective Salazar’s tip line (219-755-3855) was published by the Prosecutor’s Office via Region News Source for anyone with additional information.

Related reading

• East Chicago man arrested after Hammond-to-Chicago chase, ISP says
• Flock cameras and special prosecutors — Region N3 background

Photo credit

¹ CBS Chicago — image from original coverage of the Hammond-to-Chicago chase and arrest.