Merrillville man faces charges of shooting bystander at beach car show

A Merrillville man faces charges after shooting a bystander above his right knee at a crowded “car show” by the beach in East Chicago.

Trey “Swervo” Kelly, 30, was charged Thursday with aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony; battery by means of a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony; battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony; and criminal recklessness, a Level 5 felony.

He has not been apprehended and is ordered held on a $40,000, or $4,000 cash surety bond.

Police responded in the afternoon on Oct. 1 to the 3300 block of Aldis Avenue for a reported shooting.

Officers learned “Swervo” got into a confrontation around 3:44 p.m. with three brothers from a family there in the parking lot, court records state.

The shooting was captured on the city’s cameras.

The video appeared to show the three brothers standing near a rose gold convertible by a stage when a group of men, including

Kelly and a second man, get in their faces.

The affidavit describes various men “getting in each other’s faces,” pulling weapons, then putting them away.

The man with Kelly starts to fight one of the brothers. As the crowd thins, the f ootage shows Kelly and two of the brothers on the ground.

Kelly gets up, walks a bit, pulls out a gun and shoots back at the men, trying to get up. The third brother returned fire. Kelly shot back at him.

The victim is hit, falls down and appears to limp and crawl away, records state. He later was transferred to a Chicago hospital for surgery.

The bullet was lodged “between his femur and kneecap.” He could barely walk and may need knee reconstruction surgery, according to court documents.

Police found 8 .45-caliber bullet casings.

Kelly appears to be the only person charged, according to public court filings.