At 7:24 p.m. police were called to a shots fired report in the 800 block of Pierce Street in Gary, said Gary Cmdr. Jack Hamady.
GARY — A 71-year-old Merrillville man was robbed at gunpoint Thanksgiving morning in the first of two armed robberies along Broadway within a day, police said.
The man told police he had just taken money out of an ATM about 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the 3600 block of Broadway when he was approached by three males, one of whom had a handgun, Lt. Dawn Westerfield said.
The suspects demanded the man's money, took his wallet from his pocket and fled west on 36th Avenue, police said.
The suspects were described as black; the one with the gun wore a black sweatshirt, and another wore a white baseball cap, police said. No description was available for the third suspect.
About 3 a.m. Friday, a 34-year-old woman was walking north on Broadway when she noticed a male following her, police said.
The male approached her in the area of 45th Avenue and Broadway, put a gun to her back and said, "Give me everything you have," police said.
The woman handed him a wallet, and he ran south on Broadway. The suspect was described as a light-skinned black male, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call detectives at 219-881-1210. To remain anonymous, call 866-CRIME-GP.
Sarah Reese
Lake County Courts and Social Justice Reporter
Sarah covers crime, courts and public safety. She began her career at The Times in 2004. Contact her at sarah.reese@nwi.com or 219-933-3351.
