Felon Arrested With 2 Guns During Shoplifting Offense at Walmart
Hammond- A Gary man with an active warrant was arrested after investigators say he admitted to having two loaded handguns during a shoplifting stop at a Walmart in Hammond over the weekend.
On October 18, 2025, around 5:46 p.m., an off-duty Whiting police officer working security at the Walmart located at 1100 5th Avenue was contacted by Asset Protection staff regarding a male and female allegedly under-ringing merchandise at the self-checkout.
The female provided identification, but the male said he did not have any. He gave the name “Ronald Lee” with a date of birth, which was checked through IDACS, NCIC, and BMV records and returned no matches. After being detained, the man eventually admitted his true identity as Robert Stanley Fitzpatrick III, 29, of Gary, and stated, “I got warrants man,” according to the affidavit.
Fitzpatrick then told the officer, “I got two guns on me.” Officers lifted his sweater and recovered:
• A Ruger Model Security-9 with 14 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber
• A Glock Model 29 with 8 rounds in the magazine and 1 in the chamber
A criminal history check revealed an active probation violation warrant issued in March 2022 in connection with a Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury conviction from January 2020 in Lake County.
Charges Filed October 20, 2025:
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon — Level 4 Felony (2 counts)
Fitzpatrick was lodged in the Lake County Jail on October 18, 2025.
