Wesley Getter, a 23-year-old male, tragically lost his life on August 10, 2017, in Calumet City, Illinois. The incident occurred around 1:52 a.m. when officers and EMS personnel responded to a report of a gunshot victim on the 1200 block of Memorial Drive. Upon arrival, they found Wesley Getter shot near his home. He was immediately taken to Saint Margaret's Franciscan Health in Hammond, Indiana, where he was pronounced dead at 2:16 a.m. The Lake County coroner's office confirmed that Getter died of a gunshot wound, and his death was ruled a homicide. Additionally, another male victim was shot in the foot during the same incident.
The investigation into Wesley Getter's death led to the arrest of 24-year-old Robert Coppage. The Calumet City police, along with the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, followed several leads that eventually pointed to Coppage. He was apprehended with the assistance of Lansing police for an unrelated domestic battery case. The Cook County state's attorney's office charged Coppage with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Court records show that Coppage, who resides in Lansing, was ordered held without bond at Cook County Jail. His next court appearance was scheduled for September 1, 2017, at the Markham courthouse.
The case of Wesley Getter's murder highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in the region. The swift action by law enforcement agencies and the subsequent arrest of Robert Coppage demonstrate the commitment to bringing justice to the victims and their families. The community continues to mourn the loss of Wesley Getter, a young man whose life was cut short by senseless violence.
