A Griffith man was charged Thursday in his half-brother’s death.
Leon Roby, 50, is charged with murder and a gun enhancement, which would add more time if convicted, in the Sept. 2 death of Larry Whiters.
He is in custody, held without bond.
Gary Police responded Sept. 2 to 22nd Place and Morton Street in the city’s Tolleston section.
They found a man, later identified as Whiters, shot lying in the street nearby on the 2200 block of Baker Street. He appeared dead.
The Lake County Coroner’s Officer later ruled his death a homicide from three gunshots. A gun was not recovered at the scene.
Police learned Roby followed a woman to Whiter’s home around 8 p.m. that night. Roby started arguing what she was doing there. Roby left in a maroon Buick, while Whiters left with the woman in a white SUV.
Within a half-hour, Whiters was fatally shot.
The affidavit states both men just found out they were half-brothers. They had a history — sometime in the past, Roby “previously tried to kill (Whiters) in Illinois,” court records state.
Investigators allege Roby’s Buick was picked up on license plate readers “circling” the area and left just after the shooting, heading to Chicago.
Police allege Whiters was on the 4400 block of 25th Avenue when a man pulled up and shouted at him.
“You mess with my family…I’ll air you out,” the man told Whiters.
Roby was arrested at his home. The Buick was parked out front.
In a police interview, Roby first denied he was in Gary around 8:30 p.m. When cops showed him the license plate readers, he said he went to 21st Avenue and Clark Road to sell drugs.
He and Whiters were supposed to meet that night, but didn’t. Roby later said he knew Whiters was dead and “gave several” explanations where he was.
In a jail call, a relative told Roby police were “looking for the gun.” Roby asked the relative to wash the black shirt and jacket he wore “like the day before yesterday,” the affidavit states.
Police also pulled cell phone data from Roby’s device that showed he was in the area.
