The criminal case against an 18-year-old man accused of shooting his friend dead in a “prank” has been upgraded to murder.
Denver J. Johnson, 18, of Cedar Lake was charged Friday afternoon with murder and a firearms enhancement, according to Lake Superior Court records.
The new case means he could spend decades more in prison if convicted. Murder carries a possible charge of 45-65 years. A firearms enhancement would add 5-20 more years to a prison sentence.
Johnson was charged a week ago with Level 5 felony reckless homicide, Level 5 felony involuntary manslaughter, Level 6 felony pointing a firearm and misdemeanor criminal recklessness. A Level 5 felony carries a 1-6 year sentence.
Prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the initial case Monday. A spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. Court records do not yet show if Johnson has a lawyer.
The shooting happened after Johnson pulled out a gun when he was drinking with friends around a firepit over Memorial Day weekend.
Jason M. Paholik Jr., 16, of Crown Point, was pronounced dead by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
Police responded at 11:42 p.m. May 28 to the 12000 block of Burr Street in unincorporated Crown Point for a reported shooting.
“He’s in the back! I shot him!”, Johnson told officers.
Johnson said that he didn’t think the handgun was loaded when he pointed it “point blank” at Paholik’s chest and pulled the trigger.
A witness told police everyone was sitting around a campfire listening to music around 9 p.m. when they started drinking beer.
Johnson was handling a gun “as if it was a toy.” He pointed the gun in the air and shot into the woods a few times. It was the first time he saw Johnson with a gun. He heard a “gunshot” around 11:30 p.m., then saw Paholik on the ground.
The shooting was caught on video. It appears to show four people, including Johnson and Paholik, were around a firepit when Johnson appeared to cock the gun. He points it at Paholik.
Paholik walks out of camera view then back toward him.
“Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop,” someone there says.
Johnson lowered the gun for a moment before raising it up again and firing.
Paholik was a Crown Point High School student, according to his obituary. He is survived by his parents and siblings.
mcolias@post-trib.com
