Griffith Woman Charged After Allegedly Shooting Ex During Protection Order Violation at Park West
A Griffith woman is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly shooting her ex-boyfriend during a confrontation outside her apartment in the early morning hours of May 19, 2025.
According to court documents, 31-year-old Ashley Ann Bernice Gratton called police after reporting that her ex, who she had an active protective order against, was banging on her apartment windows and doors. Officers arrived, served the protective order which was previously not served till this contact, and instructed the man to leave the property.
According to court documents, minutes later, officers heard gunfire nearby. Gratton approached police with her hands raised, admitting she had fired a gun. She claimed the man had pushed her, prompting her to retrieve a firearm and fire several rounds toward the ground to scare him off. Witness accounts however did not tell the same story.
The man reported that he had been in an on-and-off relationship with Ashley Gratton since 2018, though their contact had been minimal since April 2025. On May 14, 2025, the man visited Ashley’s apartment unannounced with friends. After being served a protection order by police at the scene, he was returning to the vehicle when Ashley appeared outside her building, accused him of being with another woman, and pointed a gun at him. As he turned to walk away, Ashley allegedly fired, striking him and the white rental Jeep. The other witness, who was in the driver’s seat, later provided a detailed statement to the Griffith Police on May 19, confirming she saw Ashley with a gun and feared for her life as shots were fired. She said the victim shot never entered the building, and she immediately drove off after the shooting, eventually being stopped by police.
One round grazed the man in the shoulder. Several parked vehicles, including one the man had been walking toward, were also damaged by gunfire. He declined medical treatment at the scene.
Investigators recovered multiple shell casings and noted that Gratton fired from an elevated stairway. Officers reported inconsistencies between her statements, witness statements, and the physical evidence.
On May 20, 2025, Gratton was formally charged with:
- Domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon – Level 5 Felony
- Intimidation involving the use or display of a deadly weapon – Level 5 Felony
- Criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon – Level 6 Felony
- Domestic battery – Class A Misdemeanor
Gratton is currently lodged in the Lake County Jail.
