Several people were hurt and at least one man was killed in a possible home invasion shooting and two other people were shot in a carjacking overnight in Gary, Ind., police said.
Police have released few details on the overnight shootings, but said at least four people were shot just before midnight during an apparent home invasion in the 6200 block of West 29th Avenue, according to Gary Police Chief Wade Ingram.
Police said three masked gunmen tried to kick the door in a home in the block. When residents inside came to the door, they were forced back in at gun point. A struggle ensued and several people, including a neighbor, were shot.
The Lake County, Ind. Coroner's Office said Rolando Correa, 22, of Gary, was killed in the shooting.
It was not clear what the motive was, but police believe the crime was a home invasion, which they say becomes more prevalent during the holiday season.
"Around the holiday season there's an increase of burglaries and home invasions," said Gary Police spokesperson Gabrielle King.
In another fatal shooting overnight, a man and his girlfriend were shot on 21st Avenue between Virginia and Georgia Streets, police said.
The two were driving in a minivan around 3:30 a.m. Monday when a passenger in the van fired shots, striking both the man and his girlfriend.
The woman managed to get out of the minivan while the offender drove off with her boyfriend inside.
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The man's body was later found in the 3200 block of Georgia Street.
The woman was transported to an area hospital and later airlifted to Advocate Christ Medical Center.
Police are still searching for the 1999 white Chrysler minivan with license plates that read "In God We Trust."
Gary officials said it was "very, very busy night" but they do not believe the two shootings were related.
"Two murders in one night is not something we are happy about," King said. "It's like putting a puzzle together. You have all these pieces and you have to put them together and figure out what goes where. It's tedious and it's going to take time to find out what really happened."
Check back for details on this developing story.
