Man Shot & Killed In East Chicago
On March 24, 2024, at approximately 3:30 PM, East Chicago Officers were dispatched to 1021 W. 145th Street in reference to a possible gunshot victim. Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive Hispanic male on the sidewalk bleeding from the head, Chief Jose Rivera said.
The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and The Lake County Sheriff Department CSI were called out to investigate and process the scene.
East Chicago Patrol Division took two persons of interest into custody a few blocks away from the crime scene.
UPDATE – The East Chicago Police Department & The Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force secured charges on Christian Reyes Maldonado for the murder of 27-year-old Luis Ramirez of East Chicago, Sunday.
Maldonado was taken into custody 2 blocks away from the crime scene near 145th & Northcote, Sunday afternoon. Maldonado was found on Homerlee after witnesses and security cameras captured him fleeing the scene. East Chicago Officers then tried to stop Maldonado before he ran into his residence. Eventually Maldonado surrendered to police who had the residence surrounded. A search warrant was obtained for the home where a gun was found, clothes matching the descriptions, and bags of cocaine individually packaged.
Maldonado was charged with the following:
Murder with an enhancement for a handgun – Felony
Dealing in Cocaine – Felony
Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun – Felony
Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun – Misdemeanor
Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun by previous convicted felon – Felony
