GARY | Officials filed charges Thursday against a 17-year-old boy accused of gunning down a 32-year-old man earlier this month in Gary.
De'Vonte D. Hodge, 17, of Gary faces a murder charge but has not been arrested, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Department.
Laroi Griffin, 32, was shot multiple times in the upper body Feb. 9 at the Delaney housing complex at 1119 W. 21st Ave., the coroner's office said.
According to the release, Griffin and Hodge were having a conversation about killing people that turned confrontational when Hodge became offended by something Griffin said.
The Sheriff's Department said Hodge pulled out a handgun and fired two shots at Griffin. He fired another shot at Griffin as he was leaving the area.
Hodge died at the scene, officials said.
The Gary Police Department originally responded to the scene, but then turned over the investigation to the Sheriff's Department because of accusations made in the community that Gary officers were involved in the shooting.
Gary spokeswoman Chelsea Whittington said earlier this month that Gary Police Chief Wade Ingram decided to turn over the investigation after speaking to Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson.
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