East Chicago man, 26, charged in bar shooting

An East Chicago man is charged in another bar shooting, records show.

Justin A. Gomez, 26, is facing a new attempted murder case after allegedly shooting a man who tried to break up a bar fight in Griffith.

He was also charged Dec. 13 with aggravated battery, battery by means of a deadly weapon, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, and unlawful carrying of a handgun.

He was arrested Friday and is being held without bond. He made a court appearance Monday where he said he’d hire his own lawyer, filings show. His next court date is Jan. 2 before Judge Samuel Cappas.

Griffith police responded at 2:25 a.m. Dec. 10 to Shades of Time bar, 1813 W. 45th St., for a reported shooting.

The victim — a bystander — said he was trying to stop his friend from fighting a man in the parking lot when he was shot. Court records state he was shot twice — in the right thigh and back/side, which exited through his abdomen. He was airlifted to a Chicago hospital.

He didn’t know who shot him.

The bar’s security video showed Gomez’s brother exiting the bar when he bumped another man. Gomez, leaving behind him, threw a punch. The men start migrating to the parking lot to fight when Gomez takes out a gun, drops it, picks it up and fires two shots.

Gomez was sentenced to 18 months probation on Oct. 10 for a different bar shooting in August 2022. He was caught on video shooting a man after an argument inside El Sombrero bar in East Chicago. He was also ordered to undergo anger management as part of that plea deal.