A Gary Police officer testified Wednesday that cops responded three times on the night that a couple was shot dead and a third man wounded in the city’s Tolleston neighborhood.
Derrick Pouncey, 36, is charged with two counts of murder; attempted murder, a Level 1 felony; aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony; six counts of felony criminal confinement; and two counts of misdemeanor battery. He has pleaded not guilty.
Klorya Williams, 32, his girlfriend’s sister, and Kyle Williams, 31, her husband and a known domestic violence awareness advocate, were found shot to death on April 10, 2024 on the 2200 block of Roosevelt Street. A third man, Klorya’s sister’s fiance, who got into a gunfight with Pouncey was found wounded and paralyzed outside. The couple was going to grab the sister’s kids after a fight with Pouncey.
A final bail hearing is scheduled June 27. The hearings will determine the strength of the evidence against him and if he would be released before trial.
Gary Police did not respond to a question if the shooting could have been prevented, for example, had officers found Pouncey after the first shot-fired call.
Cpl. Joseph VonBank said he helped respond to three 911 calls at the house in about 90 minutes.
The first was a shot-fired call.
A neighbor testified they called 911 three times. They were sleeping when they were awakened, hearing yelling, then a gunshot. They gave their own address.
“If you’re gonna shoot me, shoot me,” the neighbor told the dispatcher they overheard.
When VonBank arrived with a partner around 2 a.m., there was no one outside and they weren’t sure of the address, he said. They didn’t get out of the squad cars, waited for a few minutes, didn’t hear anything else, then left.
About a half hour later, there was a second 911 call for a disturbance — a loud argument.
“If anything happens and I don’t say something, I’ll feel bad,” the neighbor told the 911 dispatcher on the second call. “I just want everyone to be safe. This is a quiet street.”
VonBank testified he and another officer got out, knocked on the door and talked to Pouncey.
It’s “all good, boss,” Pouncey told him, according to bodycam footage. They weren’t “fighting or nothing.” Police later found a shirt for Kates Security with a name tag “Officer D. Pouncey” along with two empty handgun cases and .762 ammunition boxes at the scene.
Pouncey’s girlfriend was walking up the street with her three kids. She was waiting for her family for a ride.
“He’s just a cheater and I caught him tonight,” she told VonBank.
Do you need anything else from us, he asked. No, she said.
Around 3:20 a.m., a third 911 call — for multiple gunshot victims.
VonBank found the man shot outside, trying to tend to him, bodycam footage showed.
Get the kids out, he ordered others.
“She’s not breathing,” Pouncey’s girlfriend screamed, referring to Klorya.
“We were here twice,” VonBank told another officer somewhat in disbelief.
What’s your boyfriend’s name, he asked Pouncey’s girlfriend. She hesitated.
“Look up the lease,” she said.
“No, this is not how this works,” he pressed.
The woman’s sister then spoke with police to detail what had transpired.
