By: Carole Carlson and Becky Jacobs – Contact Reporter

GARY, IN – Police are working to determine what caused an uptick in violence over the weekend in Gary, leaving one dead and 16 injured since Saturday.

“The violence that has occurred this weekend is unsettling, to say the least,” said Gary Police Chief Richard Allen.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office said Jazaniel Davis, 19, of Merrillville, died from gunshot injuries near 25th Avenue and Harrison Street on Sunday. He was pronounced dead at Methodist Hospitals Northlake about 11 p.m.

A 22-year-old man shot in the neck Sunday in the 500 block of Grant Street and a 21-year-old shot in the head Sunday in the 3700 block of Monroe Street were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., according to Allen.

No arrests had been made as of Monday afternoon, Commander Jack Hamady said, as officers continued to canvass scenes, interview witnesses, collect evidence and find video of the shootings. Allen said at a news conference Monday that he has increased patrols throughout the city as Indiana State Police, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana University Northwest Police assist in the investigations.

“Our team of detectives and county units have been working around the clock,” Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said Monday morning. “We need the public to step forward. We’re doing interviews and trying to tamp it down.”

An early Saturday morning spate of shootings at Ironwood Park, 1119 E. 24th Ave., may be a retaliation, the mayor said. She said people were gathered at the park for a memorial to mark the birthday of a man who died last year.

About 11:15 p.m. Saturday, police said a 17-year-old girl and a 25-year-old woman, both from Gary, arrived at Methodist. The teen had been shot in the right leg and the 25-year-old had two gunshot wounds to her upper body. The two were shot when a fight started during a gathering of about 150 people in the 1100 block of E. 24th Avenue at Ironwood Park, police said.

While police took their report, a 25-year-old man arrived at the hospital and told police he also was shot at the park. He suffered a wound to his leg.

“So that set off a wave of retaliation, but they’re not really sure that’s the only thing driving this,” Freeman-Wilson said.

Freeman-Wilson said a dispute “between different sides of town,” may have triggered the shooting onslaught. She said, however, authorities were still trying to piece the shootings together.

She said the partygoers at Ironwood Park didn’t have a permit for the event, and they violated city rules by staying after the park closed at 9 p.m. “We haven’t heard from neighbors, but I’m sure they’re not happy,” she said.

Allen said his department is also looking at stepping up enforcement of ordinances and laws at places such as clubs or parks “that create the atmosphere where violence can take place.”

While officers are still investigating, Hamady said he thinks “the ultimate root of this” is connected to past issues. “At this time, our common denominator is young males,” Hamady said.

At 5:48 p.m. Saturday, hours before the Ironwood Park shootings, police found a 21-year-old Indianapolis man with a single gunshot wound to his leg in the 300 block or Roosevelt Street. He told police he was getting out of his car, when a male subject approached him and began shooting. The victim was released with an injury that was not life-threatening, Allen said.

At 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to another call at Methodist and found three gunshot victims in the emergency room area: A 20-year-old Gary man suffered a gunshot wound to his buttocks; a 17-year-old female had a gunshot wound to her left leg and a 22-year-old Indianapolis man was shot in the neck.

The victims told police they were in the area of 5th Avenue and Grant Street when a white vehicle pulled up next to them and someone began shooting at their vehicle. The suspect fled and the victims transported themselves to the hospital.

Freeman-Wilson said that shooting was just a block from her house. She said the group was at the McDonald’s restaurant, which has a 24-hour drive-through service.

At 2:30 a.m. Sunday, another wounded man arrived at Methodist. Police said the 24-year-old male sustained a gunshot wound to his lower torso. The man told police the incident took place in the 500 block of Buchanan Street. He said a friend took him to the hospital.

Three more incidents followed during the daytime hours on Sunday.

About 1:15 p.m., police said a 21-year-old male suffered a gunshot wound to his left hip. He told police he was sitting in his vehicle with his 25-year-old brother when he heard gunshots. He said his brother was struck in the head.

Meanwhile, a 32-year-old male was shot in his vehicle near 25th Avenue and Clark Street about 4:30 p.m. Police said he was struck in the head, but drove himself to 25th Avenue and Burr Street where he sought assistance at a business. He was taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake.

About 7:30 p.m. Sunday, police said a 23-year-old man was playing basketball at Tolleston Park, when he heard gunshots and saw someone in a tan Chevrolet firing at him. He suffered a wound on his torso. He was taken to Methodist.

Freeman-Wilson said a 15-year-old boy was grazed by gunfire as he rode his bicycle by the park.

So far this year, Gary has reported 59 gunshot victims and 21 homicides, Allen said. At this time last year, there were 64 gunshot victims and 23 homicides, the chief said.

In addition to increased police patrols, Gary police deployed a SWAT team Sunday night and a gang unit to address the issue, police said.

Allen called on citizens to get involved with their community and to report any information to 219-881-1210 or the crime tip line at 219-866-274-6347.

“If you hear gunshots, report those gunshots,” Allen said.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.