In the winter of 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the evening quiet on Edward Street in Michigan City, Indiana, leaving a young man's life tragically cut short. Demetrius Rashawn Howell, a 27-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on January 23rd of that year. The incident unfolded outside a residence where Howell was present with a woman, Jessica Jones.
In the midst of the attack, Jones was also struck by gunfire.
Despite her injuries, she managed to drive away from the scene, seeking help at a nearby gas station, the Crown Food Mart on East Michigan Boulevard. Responding to a call about a woman with multiple gunshot wounds, police found Jones and immediately rendered aid before she was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Moments later, a second call directed officers to the 100 block of Edward Street, where they discovered Howell deceased from a gunshot wound.
For more than two years, detectives with the Michigan City Police Department diligently pursued leads, conducted interviews, and gathered evidence in the double shooting. Their investigation pointed to a potential drug-related motive, suggesting a connection to the sale of large quantities of marijuana. The relentless efforts of the investigators eventually culminated in the identification of a suspect.
In April 2023, an arrest warrant was served on Lamar Friend, a 41-year-old man from La Porte, Indiana. He was formally charged with one count of murder for the death of Demetrius Howell and one count of attempted murder for the injuries sustained by Jessica Jones. At the time the warrant was served, Friend was already incarcerated at the LaPorte County Jail, being held in connection with a separate homicide that occurred in August 2021. His bond for the charges related to Howell's death was set at one million dollars.
