Illinois Man Charged with Armed Robbery After Shooting Incident in Hammond
On April 25, 2025, the Hammond Police Department was patrolling near Hammond High School when the officer heard what sounded like four to five gunshots coming from the east. Dispatch soon advised of a ShotSpotter alert indicating five rounds had been fired in the 800 block of Drackert Avenue.
According to court documents, Hammond Officers then responded to where the shots had been fired. Upon entering a residence, the officer observed a male lying in the doorway with a visible gunshot wound to his leg. The victim told officers that the suspect who shot him was last seen running south through the alley. A HPD officer exited into the west alley, adjacent to the residence, and observed a subject wearing all black clothing running northbound. Based on the description given to police, the officer believed this individual was the shooting suspect, and communicated the information to another officer. The officers advised that the shooting suspect was fleeing NB toward May Street. As the responding officers were setting up a perimeter, they observed a male, matching the suspect’s description, running through the backyards along Carroll Street while holding a firearm. The suspect ran into a yard on the 5600 block of Maywood Avenue.
According to court documents, the officer gave chase on foot. As the officer entered the backyard of a residence, the officer observed the suspect throw a firearm over a fence into an adjacent yard. The officer then tackled the suspect to the ground and, with the assistance of another officer, the suspect was taken into custody. An Evidence Technician later arrived on scene. The Technician recovered the firearm, which was a Glock 23 Generation 4 .40 Caliber handgun, and collected two cell phones from the backyard of the Maywood Avenue residence.
According to court documents, during the investigation of the incident, the police reviewed camera footage from a local business. The footage showed a gray Nissan Sentra entering the parking lot, eventually parking on the east side. A black male later, identified as Deandrea Walls, exited the front passenger seat. An unknown individual wearing a white shirt and black backpack exited the rear driver’s side seat. The driver remained in the vehicle as the two individuals walked south toward an alleyway. Deandrea Walls was seen retrieving a backpack style bag from the vehicle’s driver. The two individuals remained in the area until the victim appeared on video walking southbound.
According to court documents, the victim approached the two men in the alley, and it appeared they engaged in a brief conversation. They then moved east in the alley, out of view of the camera. Moments later, the individual in the white shirt reappeared, holding what appeared to be a firearm in his right hand. He pointed the firearm and seemed to fire it eastward. After firing, the male in the white shirt fled back to the Nissan, leaving Deandrea Walls behind. Walls was then seen on camera fleeing into the parking lot, appearing to hold a firearm in his hand.
According to court documents, the police interviewed Walls after advising him of his rights, which Walls waived before agreeing to give a statement. Walls stated that he knew the victim and considered him a friend. Walls explained that he had been introduced to the victim by a mutual friend. Walls stated that, earlier in the day while at work, the victim texted him asking him if he wanted to buy a gun. Walls agreed and arranged to meet the victim near his home. Walls stated he paid someone to drive him to the meet up location. He stated that, after driving into the alley, the driver left. Walls stated that he and the victim began to “tussle,” though could not explain why the physical altercation had started. Walls admitted he had brought a gun with him and drew it after the struggle began. Walls stated the gun fell to the ground and accidentally discharged. He claimed he picked up the handgun and fired several more shots into the ground to defend himself. He admitted he feared getting caught with the gun because he did not possess an Illinois FOID card. Walls said that, when he saw police officers chasing him, he threw the gun and surrendered.
A criminal history check revealed that Deandrea Walls was convicted of a felony in Cook County in February of 2023 for unlawful possession of a weapon/vehicle/no FOID.
On April 26, 2025, Deandrea Walls was charged with:
Armed Robbery: F3 Felony
Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun – prior felony conviction: F5 Felony
Battery by Mean of a Deadly Weapon: F5 Felony
Resisting Law Enforcement: Class A Misdemeanor
