Shots Fired During Griffith Altercation
At approx 8:40PM on June 3, 2020, one of several additional Griffith Police officers assigned to patrol during recent unrests in surrounding communities witnessed a physical altercation taking place in the parking lot of the LiqGo store located at 404 N Broad St in Griffith, according to Commander Keith Martin of The Griffith Police. The officer observed two men physically fighting and confronted them, Martin said. Both subjects, one of whom had a superficial laceration over one eye, immediately stopped fighting and were subsequently detained, despite one of the subjects initially attempting to defy the officer’s orders. Other associates of both subjects were also on the scene, police said. A semi-automatic handgun with at least 1 spent shell casing was also located in the area.
Upon speaking to everyone involved and an independent witness, as well as viewing video obtained from the scene, it was learned that at least one shot was fired during the altercation, but the injury to one of the subjects was not a result of the shot, but is believed to be due to the physical altercation, Martin said. Upon further investigation, it is alleged that the victim of the injury and his friend were going to do business at the liquor store when they observed a woman walking in the area of the store, possibly involved in a domestic altercation with the suspect. When they attempted to check on her welfare, a physical altercation between the suspect and victim ensued and at least one shot was fired in the process, police said.
The injury victim, a 35 year old Lockport, IL man, was treated by medical personnel and released upon the completion of the initial investigation. The suspect, a 27 year old Griffith man, was taken into custody, and upon the completion of the initial investigation, was transported to the Lake County Jail pending the filing of charges for multiple offenses.
No further details of the incident are being released at this time pending the filing of charges, police stated Thursday.
