A young life was cut short on a Saturday evening in Gary, Indiana, leaving a family to grapple with a sudden and violent loss. Jesus Zarate, a 22-year-old male of Mexican descent from Posen, Illinois, was fatally shot on January 23, 2021. The incident occurred at the Concord Commons Apartments, located at 5306 W. 21st Avenue, where police responded to a call about a gunshot victim at approximately 6:24 p.m.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered Jesus Zarate unresponsive with a single
gunshot wound to his chest. Despite any efforts to render aid, he succumbed to his injury at the scene. The Lake County Coroner's Office later identified him as the victim. Just nine days prior to his death, Jesus had celebrated his 22nd birthday. His family, who described him as a hardworking and beautiful person, had already been mourning the recent loss of his father to COVID-19 in November of 2020. A GoFundMe page was created to assist his family with funeral expenses.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Gary Police Department initiated a homicide investigation. They appealed to the public for any information regarding the incident and encouraged witnesses to come forward. However, details regarding a motive for the shooting, or any potential suspects, were not released. As of the latest available reports, no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the murder of Jesus Zarate, and the case remains an open investigation.
