HAMMOND | Gang ties might have led to the shooting death of a 22-year-old Chicago man at a backyard card party in Hammond late Saturday night, police said.

Adam Cortez, 22, of Avenue K in Chicago, was shot in the head about 11 p.m. in the backyard of a home on 165th Street just off Calumet Avenue, Hammond police Sgt. Michael Jorden said. Cortez was pronounced dead at 1:40 a.m. Sunday at St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers in Hammond, a spokesman for the Lake County coroner's office said.

Police think Cortez belonged to a gang at some point, Jorden said.

The shooter fired several shots from an alley behind the row of single-story houses in west Hammond, Jorden said. Cortez was the only person shot in a group playing cards, Jorden said. Police do not think Cortez was armed, Jorden said.

Police had not arrested anyone and had no suspects Sunday night, Jorden said. Police know what kind of gun was used, but Jorden did not release details Sunday night.

No one answered the doorbell at the 165th Street home Sunday afternoon. A neighbor said he had heard about the shooting, but did not know details.

Anyone with information on the shooting death of Adam Cortez can call Hammond police Sgt. Tom Grabowski at 852-2983