Two men, including one who had been reported missing on Oct. 6, were found dead in Gary.
Around 6 p.m. Friday, Gary Police were searching for a possible missing person in the 2300 block of Clay Street, according to a news release. A drone was used to search an area off the roadway and what appeared to be a dead man was found about 15 feet from the road. Officers ventured into the area and confirmed that the man was dead, police said.
A Lake County Coroner’s Office release identified the man as 25-year-old Jimmijion T. Bailey. They identified the manner of death as a homicide, but all injuries and a toxicology report “are pending,” according to the release.
Bailey’s family said he was last seen around 9:30 p.m. Oct. 5 and had reported him missing to police. They planned to conduct a search party, according to social media posts.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jason Szemes 219-755-3855 at the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force.
On Thursday, two men were charged with breaking into an apartment and intimidating a man with questions about Bailey’s disappearance. Jackie Demarco James, 27, and Teajawon Jashon Pellebon are charged with criminal confinement, a Level 3 felony; intimidation, a Level 5 felony; and residential entry, a Level 6 felony.
On the afternoon of Oct. 8 at an apartment building in the 500 block of S. Vermillion Place, a woman told police that two men saying “we looking for my brother” forced their way into her apartment while holding guns and questioned a man outside about Bailey’s disappearance, court records state. When the man said he didn’t know about the incident, one of the men, who was identified as James, grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him toward the front door of the building. The police arrived soon thereafter and the men left in a black Ford SUV, records state. There was a loaded black Glock 21 Gen4 .45 caliber handgun located under the driver’s seat.
In the second incident, police were sent to the 300 block of Calhoun Street for a report of shots fired early Saturday.
Officers found an unresponsive man down near the east alley of the 300 block of Calhoun Street, according to a news release. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the body.
Gary Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene and advised the male had no signs of life, police said.
A Lake County Coroner’s release said the man was identified as 63-year-old Joseph Harris, who resided in the 300 block of Tompkins Street.
Anyone with information is advised to contact Detective Roger Escutia at 219-755-3855 at the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force.
