Man charged with criminal recklessness

A man faces charges after police allege he fired two “warning shots” in the air near a Hammond high-rise apartment building.

Gerald J. Liggans, 33, was charged Saturday with eight counts of criminal recklessness, records show. Court records indicate he is homeless. Two women told police he fired the shots Saturday around 8 p.m. after arguing with them. A woman said she and a relative, with kids in the backseat, pulled up to the Renaissance Towers, 535 Logan Drive, to look for their two kids and their friend who sneaked out of the house, charges allege.

After the woman spotted the trio walking out with a group of boys, she motioned them over to yell at them, the affidavit states.

Liggans, whom the women didn’t know, came over to confront them.

“Is there an issue?” he allegedly said.

The women said they started to argue with him, saying they were trying to discipline the children, which was none of his business. One smelled alcohol on his breath, charges state.

After they pulled off, the woman saw him walk into the street and fire two shots in the air, the affidavit states.

Liggans told police he believed he was only trying to “protect” himself, charges state.

Shortly after police arrived they spotted Liggans 25 yards away from where the woman had parked. All eight people in their car identified him as the alleged assailant, the affidavit states.

Liggans was 57 feet away from the apartment building, police said.

Shooting near an apartment building where people lived and kids ran around was “very dangerous”, the affidavit stated.

Noah Inman, 13, was killed while playing basketball in Hammond with friends in July 2017 after being hit by a stray bullet fired in the air. The case has not been solved to date.

The city of Hammond passed an ordinance earlier this year to fine anyone caught shooting recklessly in addition to their criminal charges.