East Chicago Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for 2024 Homicide
LAKE COUNTY — Christian Reyes Maldonado, 23, of East Chicago, has been sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison for the March 24, 2024, shooting death of Luis Anthony Ramirez near West 145th Street and Northcote Avenue in East Chicago, according to court documents.
According to court documents , Luis Ramirez was placing his son in a car seat when Maldonado approached on foot. The two men began arguing, and Christian Maldonado pulled a .380 handgun and shot Ramirez once in the face. Maldonado then fled the area on foot.
Maldonado was initially charged with Murder, Dealing in Cocaine (Level 2 Felony), and Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun. As part of a stipulated plea agreement, those charges were dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to Voluntary Manslaughter (Level 2 Felony) and a Firearm Enhancement under cause number 45G03-2403-MR-000005.
The court imposed the maximum penalty allowed under the agreement — 30 years for Voluntary Manslaughter and 20 years for the Firearm Enhancement, totaling 50 years in prison.
“This sentence sends a clear message that this type of violence in our communities will not be tolerated,” said Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter. “We remain committed to working with law enforcement partners to seek justice for victims and to hold offenders accountable.”
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Maureen Koontz and Lauren Lanham. The Indiana State Police, led by Detective Brian McCall, conducted the primary investigation with assistance from the East Chicago Police Department and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force.
