In the early morning hours of September 25, 2022, a celebration at Serenity Hall in Hammond, Indiana, turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 29-year-old Brian Leonard of Chicago. The incident unfolded around 1:40 a.m. when an argument that began between two women at a birthday party escalated dramatically. The dispute moved outside, where gunfire erupted, leaving four people shot. Brian Leonard was among the victims and was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 2:45 a.m.
His death was later ruled a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to a white Ford Expedition that was seen on surveillance footage arriving at the scene shortly before the shooting. Three men exited the vehicle and opened fire on the crowd gathered outside the hall. The gunfire lasted for about ten seconds before the shooters got back into the Expedition, which was driven by a fourth individual, and fled the scene.
Through their investigation, law enforcement officials were able to identify several suspects allegedly connected to the shooting. Joseph Odell Smith, 30, of Glenwood, Illinois, was arrested on December 10, 2022, and charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder. Another suspect, 27-year-old Marcus Mathis of Griffith, was also charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder. He was located in Chicago and extradited to Lake County. A third individual, 30-year-old Daquan Pierce of Chicago, faced the same charges, with court documents alleging he was present at the party and acted as an informant for the alleged shooters. A fourth man, Cordero Miller, was also charged with one count of murder and three counts of Level 1 felony attempted murder in November of 2022.
Investigators believe the shooting was not a random act of violence, but rather a targeted attack. The suspects were reportedly associated with a gang from Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. The rented Ford Expedition used in the commission of the crime was later found abandoned and burned.
