HAMMOND, Ind. — A passenger threw a handgun from a fleeing car on Indianapolis Boulevard during a high-speed chase Wednesday night, Indiana State Police said. Troopers later stopped the car on Interstate 80 and arrested all three men inside.
Key facts
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| When | Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, about 8 p.m. | ISP release |
| Where it started | Eastbound I-80 near the Indiana–Illinois state line | ISP release |
| Top speed | More than 110 mph | ISP release |
| Recovered | Two 9mm semi-automatic handguns, damaged magazines, a laser attachment and ammunition | ISP release |
| Arrested | Three men from University Park and South Holland, Ill. | ISP release; StarCityTV |
| Jail | Lake County Jail | ISP release |
The chase
A trooper watching eastbound I-80 traffic near the state line saw a blue Hyundai speeding, following too closely, making unsafe lane changes and driving without taillights, state police said.
The Hyundai sped up past 110 mph. It left I-80 onto northbound Indianapolis Boulevard and kept going, according to the release.
The trooper saw the rear-seat passenger throw a handgun out near 169th Avenue, police said. A short time later, the same passenger threw an extended magazine out near 167th Avenue.
The car went through several Hammond streets, then got back on I-80 westbound. The driver braked hard and swung in behind the trooper, police said. Troopers boxed the car in and stopped it on the shoulder. All three men were taken into custody without further incident.
Who was arrested
| Person | Role | Preliminary charges |
|---|---|---|
| Jalonnie Marks, 20, University Park, Ill. | Driver | Resisting law enforcement, Level 6 felony; reckless driving, Class A misdemeanor; six traffic infractions |
| Rodger Phillips, 21, South Holland, Ill. | Passenger | Convicted felon in possession of a handgun, Level 5 felony |
| Dontrell Sims, 20, South Holland, Ill. | Passenger | Obstruction of justice, Level 6 felony |
The charges come from the state police release and StarCityTV. A records check showed Phillips had a felony conviction dated Sept. 8, 2026, in Cook County, Ill., police said. Both guns thrown from the car had been within his reach, according to the release.
What's next
The charges are preliminary. The Lake County Prosecutor's Office decides on formal charges. No court dates were listed in the published reports.
All three men are presumed innocent. Arrests and criminal charges are accusations, and the state must prove them in court.
Photo credit
¹ Eastbound Borman Expressway at the Kennedy Avenue exit, Hammond — photo by Aneekr at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for web; this copy is shared under the same license. Illustrative; not connected to the case.
² Borman Expressway at Cline Avenue (SR 912) — photo by Retaildesigner at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Resized for web. Illustrative; not connected to the case.
³ Indiana State Police cruiser — photo by Sarah Ewart, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for web; this copy is shared under the same license. File photo; not connected to the case.
