Jurors convicted a Gary woman Tuesday for opening fire near a man at a Hobart gas station.
Zakira Porter, 38, who declined to leave her jail cell, was convicted of attempted battery by means of a deadly weapon, three counts of criminal recklessness, one count of intimidation, pointing a firearm, and two misdemeanors.
She was acquitted on the final misdemeanor — refusing to identify herself for the cops.
The jury deliberated for two hours. Her sentencing is March 4.
In closing arguments, Deputy Prosecutor Gary Marek wrote that victim Eric Carter’s two kids and another man backed up his account.
Defense lawyer Sonya Scott-Dix said Porter felt threatened and said her argument with Carter was a lot more heated than he led on.
Porter “shot in the air,” not at them, she said.
Marek retorted Carter was unarmed. Anyone could have been killed if the bullets fell the right way.
The gas station video “speaks for itself,” he said. Porter was “unhinged,” “angry,” and “not in control.”
Hobart Police were called just after 5:30 p.m. on May 27, 2022, to a Luke Oil gas station, 3211 W. 37th Ave., now-Assistant Hobart Police Chief Nick Wardrip wrote.
Carter told police he went inside at the same time as Porter and “jokingly” said that she almost hit him with the door.
“Have a blessed day,” he said, walking back to his SUV.
Carter testified Monday that appeared to set Porter off, and they began trading words, before she pepper sprayed him.
She said she had a gun and would shoot him, documents state. He responded there wasn’t a need to shoot over something “so small,” the affidavit states.
Porter then pulled out a pink and silver revolver, firing a shot, documents state. Security video appeared to corroborate the man’s story, who appeared to duck at one point, the affidavit states. She fired a second shot while he drove off, he said.
Police did not find any bullet holes in the man’s vehicle.
A woman in a jean jacket and grey sweatpants — later identified as Porter — fled in a red GMC van. She was pulled over and arrested on W. 39th Street with her daughter in the van, documents state.
Police saw the child appeared to have been whipped with an electrical cord for some time. That led to a second criminal case for battery and neglect. After her conviction in absentia, Porter was sentenced to 17.5 years in December.
In that case, Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Jatkiewicz argued the child had been tortured. Scott-Dix asked for leniency, saying Porter had no criminal history and struggled with mental illness.