5 Suspects Overnight Caught During Crime Spree Involving Carjackings, Pursuits, and Shooting
On Sunday, March 2, 2025, around 10:15 PM, a Munster Police Officer working the Crime Suppression Unit was alerted to a carjacked Red Sonata from Calumet City that just hit a License Plate Reader at 80/94 & Burr St. The officer notified dispatch to alert Gary Officers of the alert. The vehicle was not found in the area.
Around 10:30 PM, Griffith Police were dispatched to Main & Colfax in reference to two individuals that were shot in a vehicle by suspects in a red car. On arrival police found a vehicle disabled with numerous bullet holes in the front of the car and two people with injuries inside. The couple in the car told police they were driving near 55th & Chase when the suspects attempted to carjack them. The couple was blocked in before they could make a complete stop, the woman told RNS. Four males then jumped out and said, “Get out the fuc**** car!” One of the suspects tried opening the door. The couple reversed while the suspects shot over 20 rounds into the front of their car.
Around 10:59 PM another attempted carjacking occurred near 30 & Whitcomb in Merrillville where a woman ran into a bar to escape the armed suspects. The woman didn’t have her keys so the suspect fled the scene.
The suspect vehicle was then visually located around 11:15 PM by the Munster Crime Suppression Unit. The suspect was traveling westbound on 80/94 at Calumet Ave. attempting to flee back into Illinois. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle which fled into Illinois with speeds at 130 MPH at times. The chase went southbound on 394 to westbound Sauk Trail to Park Forest. Multiple agencies from Indiana & Illinois attempted to stop the car before they lost visual and terminated the pursuit. Unbeknownst to the suspects aviation units continued to follow them. A short time later the suspects went back northbound 394 to 94 and exited in Dolton. Multiple units converged on the area near 14300 Chicago Ave where 5 suspects bailed on foot and were apprehended a short time later.
Multiple guns were recovered from the vehicle in which police believed were used in all 3 crimes.
The two injured from the shooting both are believed to have non life threatening injuries. The woman was grazed by a bullet and her husband was shot in the shoulder. He will require surgery.
The 5 suspects have not been identified as of this posting pending charges in both states. At least one of the suspects is believed to be a juvenile. All the suspects are Illinois residents.
Merrillville Chief Kosta Nuses accredited the use of License Plate Readers to quickly track the suspects as they traveled. Nuses also thanked the numerous surrounding departments in assisting and apprehending the suspects.
