Michigan City Police Investigates Homicide
On Saturday July 4th, 2020 at approximately 7:33 P.M.; the La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call in reference to several shots being fired in the area of the 200 Block of Lake Hills Road on the city’s north end near Washington Park, according to Police. As Officers were responding to the area, Michigan City Police received a call of a vehicle that had collided with a building at the intersection of East US HWY 12 and Liberty Trail.
Officer Adam Brinkman was first to arrive at the scene of the vehicle crash along with the Michigan City Fire Department. Officer Brinkman located an unresponsive male subject in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that appeared to have bullet holes along the driver side. The male subject was tended to by members of the Michigan City Fire Department and was ultimately transported to Franciscan Hospital by La Porte County EMS where he was later pronounced dead, police said.
The deceased was identified as 22-year-old, Antonio Jesus Rivera of La Porte, Indiana. The Michigan City Police Department’s Investigative Division and La Porte County Drug Task Force were called out to investigate. Officers and Detectives spent the next 24 hours processing crime scenes and interviewing witnesses. Officers recovered several spent shell casings from various areas in the neighborhood surrounding the 200 Block of Lake Hills Road.
A forensic autopsy was performed on RIVERA this morning by Dr. John Feczko. The manner of death was determined to be a homicide. The circumstances leading up to this unfortunate event are still being investigated, however; this event appears to be an isolated incident stemming from an altercation that began near Stop 2 at Washington Park. Police have also developed a person of interest pertaining to this incident.
Assisting agencies included: Michigan City Fire Department, La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center, La Porte County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the La Porte County Coroner’s Office.
The Michigan City Police Department would ask anyone with information or surveillance cameras (such as Ring Doorbell Cameras) in the area of the 200 Block of Lake Hills Road and surrounding neighborhood to contact, Detective Arwen LaMotte at 219-874-3221 Ext: 1081.
The crime tip hotline number of 219-873-1488, or you can also call the WeTip Hotline for General Crime (800) 78-CRIME and possibly receive a reward upon an arrest and conviction. All WeTip call information is sent directly to the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. You may remain anonymous!
