A Gary teen is facing murder charges for killing a friend in an East Chicago apartment bedroom, then stealing his Buick LeSabre, charges allege.
The alleged shooter, 17, was charged Tuesday with murder, auto theft and intimidation. He also faces a gun enhancement that could add another 5-20 years if convicted.
He is in custody at the Lake County Jail. The Post-Tribune is not naming him, since he is a minor.
East Chicago Police responded April 24 to the victim’s apartment on the 4900 block of Melville Avenue. There, they found Jamel Bardney, 18, curled up in a fetal position in his bedroom, shot once in the head.
He was shot at “point blank” range and appeared “defenseless,” the affidavit states.
His April 23 death was ruled a homicide.
A 9-mm bullet casing was found near his body. By the backdoor, police found what appeared to be a bloody footprint, or “smear.” The LeSabre was gone.
A relative went to the apartment, saw the backdoor was left open and found his body, charges state.
Witnesses said he was hanging out with the alleged shooter, a friend, in the early evening. Police found surveillance video that appeared to show Bardney picking him up at his Gary house around 5 p.m. April 23.
One relative noted the shooter had just gotten out from a lengthy stint in the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center. Another relative told Bardney not to hang out with him, adding Bardney always tried to help out teen friends, but sometimes they took advantage of his generosity, documents state.
Police obtained an Instagram video showing the alleged shooter with Bardney’s gun a few days before he died. The teen was wearing white Nikes.
Later on April 25, the shooter told a woman to stop calling him about “police (expletive),” i.e. the case. “Don’t be next,” he allegedly threatened.
Gary cops found the car on April 23 in the 700 block of Harrison Street. A Ring doorbell camera captured two people running from the car around 7:49 p.m., including one male in a black face mask with a white coat, black hoodie, black pants and white shoes.
Gary Police arrested the alleged shooter on May 1 for battery and intimidation after he allegedly threatened a random person at a gas station, then tried to fight him.
He later threatened his step-father and mother in the car, charges show.
At the jail, police found white Nikes with a bit of smeared blood in his belongings. The Indiana State Police lab was not able to pull a DNA profile.
In an earlier search warrant, cops found several live rounds near his bed.
