An 18-year-old East Chicago man is facing felony charges after police say he brought a loaded handgun into East Chicago Central High School earlier this week.
According to court documents, Ajonya Davon Juell Shorter was arrested on May 4 after school security staff discovered a handgun during a screening process at the school located in the 1100 block of West Columbus Drive.
Police said a school security officer was monitoring the metal detector area when Shorter entered the building carrying a red backpack. The detector repeatedly alerted, prompting additional searches of the backpack. Security staff reportedly located pliers, a fork and a can of pineapples before noticing a tightly wrapped grocery bag inside the backpack.
Court documents state that when the security officer attempted to inspect the bag, Shorter allegedly told her, “You don’t want to know,” and struggled with her over the item before grabbing the bag and running from the school.
A dean of students told police he chased Shorter outside the building after seeing him flee with the bag. The dean said Shorter later made statements about “messing up,” going to jail, and needing to protect himself from people trying to hurt him.
Investigators said the dean later recovered the bag from bushes near the school entrance and found a loaded Glock Model 22 Gen 4 .40 caliber handgun wrapped in a white cloth. The firearm reportedly contained approximately 14 to 15 live rounds of ammunition.
Another school security officer told police that Shorter allegedly stated, “I’d rather be in jail than a box.”
Court records state investigators later reviewed Shorter’s cell phone and observed multiple background photos allegedly showing him holding various firearms, including handguns and “Draco”-style pistols.
Investigators also stated Shorter was already on juvenile probation following a 2025 juvenile adjudication involving criminal recklessness and dangerous possession of a firearm.
Lodged in the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed May 6,2026:
• Dangerous Possession of a Firearm, a Level 5 Felony
• Possession of a Firearm on School Property, a Level 6 Felony
• Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Misdemeanor
