Gary man charged in death of 14-year-old boy shot by stray bullet during car chase: police
A Gary man was charged in the April 25 fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy, officials said.
Anthony Lamont Triplett Jr., of the 300 block of South Jay Street, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting of Arion
Lilly, Gary Police spokesman Cmdr.
Jack Hamady said in a release late Friday.
Triplett was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Lake County jail Friday afternoon, the release said. Officials did not provide Triplett’s age.
The Post-Tribune previously reported that witnesses told police that Arion was shot while bullets were fired from a person in a vehicle who was chasing another vehicle.
After reviewing surveillance footage, detectives sought the public’s help in identifying the driver of a red sedan with tinted windows, a rear spoiler and a dent on the rear passenger side. A probable cause affidavit Hamady provided Friday said Gary police received an anonymous tip April 29 indicating the car was at the Jay Street address.
After executing a search warrant, Gary officers found the vehicle, a Walmart work vest allegedly belonging to Triplett, four live 9mm rounds and one spent bullet casing consistent with those found in the vicinity of where Arion’s body was found, the affidavit stated.
Arion died after being struck by a stray bullet fired by one of the occupants of two vehicles involved in a chase, Gary police said. He was hit while walking about in the 1100 block of Rutledge Street. Officers found him on the ground near a vacant lot.
“We continue to work with all involved in the furtherance of this case and bring an end to the senseless violence in our community,” Gary Police Chief Richard Allen said in the release.
More charges are expected in the case, officials said.
Assisting Gary police in the case are the Lake County Police Department, Lake County Prosecutors Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lake County Crime Lab, Indiana State Excise Police and U.S. Marshal’s office, officials said.
Michelle L Quinn is a freelancer for the Post-Tribune.