A Gary man is facing multiple felony charges, including murder and attempted murder, after investigators say he armed himself, confronted neighbors, and opened fire during a dispute Sunday evening that left one man dead and another wounded.
On Tuesday, Detective James Nielsen of the Gary Police Department and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force secured charges against Juan Alberto Camarillo, 45, in connection with the July 12 shooting in the 5700 block of West 6th Avenue.
Gary police responded to 5714 West 6th Avenue after reports of a shooting. Officers arrived to find two men restraining Camarillo on the front lawn while two gunshot victims lay nearby. According to court documents, the men told officers Camarillo was the shooter and directed them to the handgun used in the incident.
One victim, Frank Haney, 34, of Gary, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead. A preliminary investigation by the Lake County Coroner’s Office determined Haney died from three close-contact gunshot wounds to the left side of his abdomen.
A second victim suffered a gunshot wound to his right shoulder and arm and survived.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the violence was preceded by an earlier confrontation. Witnesses told investigators that Frank Haney reported Camarillo had pointed a handgun at him while questioning why he was walking through the neighborhood.
Investigators say Camarillo’s aunt confronted him about the allegation. She told police Camarillo admitted the encounter had occurred and became angry after learning the Haney family intended to call police. According to the affidavit, Camarillo then pulled out a handgun and declared, “I’m going to handle it right now,” before walking across the street toward the Haney residence.
Additional surveillance video reviewed by detectives allegedly captured Camarillo becoming increasingly agitated after she told him police were going to be called. According to the affidavit, he pulled a handgun from his waistband and stated, “Fuck them… I will burn their asses right now,” before walking toward the victims’ property.
Ring camera footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows Camarillo pacing in his driveway before crossing the street with a handgun. Detectives say the video shows him firing a round into the ground near the curb before pointing the gun toward people in the yard.
The affidavit states that Frank Haney, who was unarmed, attempted to disarm Camarillo after the initial shots were fired. Detectives allege Camarillo fired at Haney’s feet before raising the handgun and firing multiple additional rounds toward Haney and victim 2. Frank Haney then charged at Camarillo in another apparent attempt to stop the shooting before being fatally wounded.
Witnesses told investigators that other family members were eventually able to wrestle Camarillo to the ground, disarm him, and hold him until officers arrived.
When officers first encountered Camarillo, he claimed neighbors had been shooting at him and that he had been struck in the head with a brick. However, Detective Nielsen wrote in the affidavit that no evidence corroborated those claims, and body camera footage, surveillance video, witness statements, and forensic evidence all contradicted Camarillo’s version of events.
At the scene, investigators recovered five spent shell casings, a Taurus handgun, a baseball cap, and blood-covered clothing. Officers also found five live rounds of ammunition in Camarillo’s pocket.
Detective Nielsen concluded in the affidavit that Camarillo “was the aggressor and provocateur” throughout the incident, alleging he approached another person’s property while armed, threatened those present, fired multiple shots into the ground, and ultimately shot both victims.
Camarillo has been charged with:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
- Aggravated Battery
- Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury
- Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon
- Criminal Recklessness (Level 5 and Level 6 felonies)
- Intimidation (Level 5 felony and Class A misdemeanor)
- Multiple firearm sentencing enhancements
If convicted on all counts and enhancements, Camarillo could face more than 135 years in prison.
The investigation was led by Detective James Nielsen with assistance from the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force, which includes the Indiana State Police, Indiana State Excise Police, East Chicago Police Department, Gary Police Department, the Lake County Coroner’s Office, and the Lake County Crime Scene Investigation Division.
Anyone with information regarding the homicide is asked to contact Detective James Nielsen at 219-755-3855.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
