A Hammond man was shot early Sunday morning in a downtown Highland parking lot is declining to press charges should the suspect be found, according to police.
The shooting happened at around 2:19 a.m. in a parking lot east of Growler’s Bar, 2816 Highway Ave., Highland Police spokesman Cmdr. John Banasiak said Sunday in a release. The parking lot is next to Fagen-Miller Funeral Home and across the street from Langel’s Pizza, 2833 Highway Ave., in the heart of the town’s business district.
Officers were dispatched to the lot on a call of gunshots heard coming from there; they found the man in the alley near the back doorway of Growlers, Banasiak said.
The victim, who was alert and bleeding from his right arm, told officers he and a friend had just pulled in the lot after the two, with another group of people, left a 45th Street bar in Griffith, Banasiak said. As he was getting out of the car, Banasiak said, he heard a man call out his name, then turned to see a man dressed in black holding a gun before he shot him.
The 34-year-old victim, who was taken to an area hospital for what appears to be non-life-threatening injuries, told Highland investigators “he does not wish to pursue charges against any suspect,” Banasiak said. Should the suspect be caught, however, Highland Police would bring charges to the Lake County prosecutor.
The shooter has neither been located nor identified yet, Banasiak said.
Banasiak said the department will refer the shooting to the Indiana State Excise Police for review as well.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Highland Police Department is asking anyone with any information to please contact Highland Police Department Detective Lee Natelborg at 219-838-3184.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
