Wife killed, husband wounded in shooting at Gary, Indiana, home, police say
GARY, Ind. (CBS) — Police late Thursday were searching for the suspect who shot a Gary, Indiana man and his wife at their Miller Beach home the night before—killing the wife and taking off in her car.
Hours after the Wednesday night shooting, a gruesome trail of blood remained in place from the front door of the house to the street. One neighbor said it appeared the wounded man stumbled outside to get help for his wife.
At last check, the man was still fighting for his life.
One neighbor who asked not to have his face shown said he heard "a loud commotion" around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of North Warren Street.
"I looked outside didn't see anything, went back in the house," the neighbor said, "and then about five minutes later, I heard something else again. I looked out. I saw somebody in the street, and somebody in a truck rendering aid to the gentleman in the street."
He immediately recognized the man as his neighbor.
Police came to the scene for a call of a man down, and found the 69-year-old victim lying in the front yard with a gunshot wound. As officers were securing the scene, they found the blood that led into the home—and inside found the man's 73-year-old wife, who had also been shot.
The Gary Fire Department arrived on the scene and took the woman to St Catherine's Hospital, where she died. The man was taken to Methodist Northlake Hospital for treatment.
The husband and wife were well-known longtime residents of the Miller Beach community along Lake Michigan.
Police said the suspect was wearing a ski mask and left the scene in what neighbors said was the wife's blue Nissan Xterra with personalized plates that read, "Blue Mom."
The vehicle was later recovered unoccupied.
The neighbor said he had no idea who could have committed such a gruesome crime.
"They were great people," he said, "so for this to happen is terrible."
Gary police said the husband was in serious, but stable, condition as of late Thursday afternoon.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Gary police Sgt. James Nielsen at 219 755-3855.