In the late morning of May 19, 2020, in Gary, Indiana, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of the 1300 block of Grant Street. When police arrived at approximately 11:38 a.m., they discovered two young men suffering from gunshot wounds. One of them was 21-year-old Phillip Phillips. Both he and the other victim, Trevion Hudnell, were pronounced dead at the scene around 12:40 p.m.
by the Lake County coroner's office.
The investigation into the double homicide initially pointed to a possible robbery. Two individuals, Xavier Watson and Mikal Franklin, were charged with the murders of Phillips and Hudnell. However, the case took a significant turn when Watson and Franklin claimed they had acted in self-defense, alleging that Phillips and Hudnell were attempting to rob them. In a move that would have tragic consequences, the charges against Watson and Franklin were subsequently dropped.
The resolution of the initial charges did not bring an end to the violence. Instead, it appeared to fuel a desire for vengeance. In July 2020, the cycle of violence continued when authorities arrested Phillip Phillips' younger brother, Devonte T. Phillips, along with Thaddeus S. McWilliams and Christian I. Nelson. The three were charged with the murder of 16-year-old Christopher Watson and the attempted murder of two other individuals. This act of violence was reportedly in retaliation for the shooting death of Phillip Phillips two months prior. The subsequent legal proceedings highlighted the deep-seated tensions and threats that followed the initial incident.
