In the summer of 2022, a tragic and violent event unfolded at a Citgo gas station in Gary, Indiana, leading to the death of 25-year-old Tyrae D. Hayes. On July 31st, Hayes was at the gas station located at 901 E. 5th Avenue when he was ambushed and fatally shot. First responders found him inside the station, lying near the front counter with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the murder of the Black / African American man quickly pointed to a retaliatory killing. Authorities identified Byron Barnes, who was 19 at the time, as one of the main perpetrators. Surveillance footage from the gas station captured the brutal attack, showing Barnes and another individual, Michael R. Alexander, entering the establishment and opening fire on Hayes. The motive for the shooting was believed to be retaliation for the November 2021 killing of Tobigah Goins, a friend of Barnes. Although Hayes had been a suspect in Goins's death, he was never formally charged.
The legal proceedings that followed the shooting saw Byron Barnes charged with murder and a gun enhancement. During his trial, prosecutors presented evidence of a meticulously planned attack, including Barnes's attempts to disguise his identity by changing clothes after the incident. He was ultimately convicted for his role in the murder and sentenced to 65 years in prison.
Initially, two other individuals were implicated in the crime. Michael R. Alexander was charged alongside Barnes, but the charges against him were later dropped and his case was expunged. A third person, Jimmijion T. Bailey, was believed to have been the driver for the shooters. However, the charges against Bailey were rejected in 2022, and his case was also expunged, with prosecutors stating they could not prove the case against either him or Alexander.
