Two men charged in Gary gas station slaying last month; charges on hold for a third

Three men were charged Tuesday in a Gary gas station slaying last weekend, while a magistrate rejected charges against the driver for lack of probable cause, records show.

Michael R. Alexander, 25, and Byron A. Barnes, 19, both face a murder charge in the July 31 shooting death of Tyrae D. Hayes, 25, of Gary.

Jimmijion T. Bailey, 23, the driver, was also charged, but Magistrate Kathleen Sullivan has initially denied, or rejected, the case for lack of probable cause. A further court hearing is set for Sept. 1.

Alexander and Barnes are both in custody being held without bail, court records state.

Gary police were called at 2:50 p.m. July 31 to a Citgo gas station, 901 E. 5th Avenue, where they found Hayes inside “bleeding profusely” lying on his back near the front counter with gunshot wounds to the head and body, the affidavit states.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office pronounced him dead on scene, according to court records.

Surveillance footage showed three men pull up in a gray Hyundai to the gas station at 2:37 p.m. Two men, identified as Bailey and Barnes, get out and go inside, records state. As they pull off, a moped pulls up with Hayes riding as a back passenger.

Two minutes after Hayes enters the station, Barnes and Alexander appear on footage walking around the station then following him inside, records state.

Alexander appears to pull out a gun, shooting Hayes in the forehead, while Barnes pulls out his own gun, shooting Hayes “several times” in his body, charges state. Both men ran out of the gas station, the affidavit states.

An hour later, Alexander, Barnes and Bailey were arrested at Marquette Park in Gary after police got reports of the three walking on the beach with guns, court records show.

Bailey was arrested with a loaded .40-caliber handgun and a “large” stash of marijuana in a backpack, according to the affidavit. Barnes and Alexander gave officers fake names and birthdays. Bailey was arrested for marijuana possession, while Barnes and Alexander were initially arrested for false informing before they were linked by another officer to the earlier gas station shooting, records state.