GARY — A Merrillville man is accused of participating in an apparent armed robbery that turned deadly in Gary earlier this month, with investigators using surveillance footage, witness statements, license plate readers, and a confession to connect him to the fatal shooting.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed Keionta Lamar Martin, 20, is accused of involvement in the October 19th shooting death of Hendrick Robinson near 457 Richard Gordon Hatcher Boulevard in Gary.
Robinson, approximately 60 years old, was found suffering from gunshot wounds and transported to Methodist Northlake Hospital, where he later died. An autopsy determined his death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the torso.
According to Detectives, who are assigned to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force, surveillance footage obtained from a nearby apartment building captured Robinson walking along Richard Gordon Hatcher Boulevard shortly before the shooting.
Investigators reported that Robinson was approached by a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt who appeared to ask him a question. The two then walked toward an alley near 440 Richard Gordon Hatcher Boulevard. Moments after they disappeared from the camera’s view, gunfire could be heard.
According to the affidavit, audio captured Robinson interacting with at least one individual before the shooting. A male voice could be heard saying, “I’m empty,” followed by another voice saying that a “switch” was not working. Investigators believe those statements may have been made during an attempted robbery.
Crime scene investigators recovered 76 spent shell casings from the area, including evidence indicating that at least three different firearms were discharged.
Police also determined that Robinson had been carrying a .45-caliber handgun, leading investigators to believe at least two other individuals were armed during the confrontation.
Additional surveillance footage and witness interviews helped investigators identify a white Nissan Sentra believed to have been used by individuals involved in the shooting.
One witness told investigators he heard gunfire and observed two or three people running from the area where Robinson was shot before entering the Nissan and fleeing. Another witness provided a similar account. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the vehicle traveling through the area immediately following the homicide.
Investigators identified the vehicle as a white 2023 Nissan Sentra through license plate reader records.
On October 22, Gary Police located the vehicle near 8901 East 5th Avenue in Gary and conducted a traffic stop.
Martin was seated in the passenger seat and identified himself to officers.
Police also discovered a rifle or AR-style pistol on the passenger-side floorboard. A subsequent search reportedly uncovered approximately 9.8 grams of suspected marijuana, which field-tested positive.
Investigators determined the Nissan was registered to Martin through Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles records.
During an interview with detectives, Martin reportedly denied knowing anything about Robinson’s killing.
He acknowledged owning the Nissan and the firearm recovered during the traffic stop but claimed he had been at his girlfriend’s or mother’s residence around the time of the shooting.
According to the affidavit, Martin initially placed himself near 5th Avenue and Richard Gordon Hatcher Boulevard before changing his account to an area near 5th Avenue and Hayes Street. Both locations are near the homicide scene.
Martin also reportedly told investigators his phone had broken two or three days earlier, around the same time Robinson was killed.
Detectives later obtained license plate reader records showing Martin’s Nissan in the area of the homicide on October 19, shortly after the shooting, which investigators estimated occurred around 3:33 p.m.
Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 4400 block of Ryan Court in Gary, where Martin said his grandfather lived. During the search warrant investigation, detectives spoke with Martin’s grandfather, who reportedly told investigators he believed his grandson was involved in something serious.
According to the affidavit, the grandfather said Martin had been hiding his vehicle behind the residence in a manner that prevented the license plates from being easily seen.
A neighbor voluntarily provided surveillance footage from October 19 that investigators said contradicted Martin’s account of his whereabouts. The footage reportedly showed Martin arriving at the Ryan Court residence in his white Nissan around 4:30 p.m., approximately one hour after the homicide.
The affidavit states that Martin could be heard making a statement on surveillance video indicating that an older man had likely died, followed by an explicit remark about the shooting.
One of the most significant developments in the investigation came during an interview.
According to the affidavit, another witness initially provided inaccurate information about his whereabouts on October 19 before acknowledging he had been in Indiana that day.
The witness told investigators Martin arrived at the Ryan Court residence and described what had happened near 5th Avenue in Gary.
According to the witness statement, Martin told him that he and another individual had gone to rob somebody in an alley when an older man began shooting at them.
The witness alleged Martin admitted that his associate shot the older man and struck him.
Martin reportedly told the witness that the victim had nine firearms on him and that the victim had also shot at them.
The witness further told investigators that Martin began shooting at the older man with a firearm equipped with a “switch,” a term commonly used to describe a device that converts certain firearms to automatic fire.
Investigators stated the witnesses account was consistent with other evidence collected during the investigation, including surveillance footage showing Martin arriving at the residence following the homicide.
Detectives concluded in the probable cause affidavit that witness statements, surveillance footage, physical evidence, and statements attributed to Martin supported the belief that Martin participated in an apparent robbery and discharged a firearm during the confrontation.
The affidavit specifically references the large number of shell casings recovered, the presence of multiple firearms, and statements suggesting the suspects attempted to rob Robinson before the shooting.
The investigation was conducted by The Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force, with assistance from the Gary Police Department.
Martin was charged with Murder, Robbery, Attempted Robbery, with an additional two firearm enhancements added on to the charges.
The allegations contained in the probable cause affidavit have not been proven in court, and Martin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
