On a Sunday evening in Gary, Indiana, 60-year-old Phillip Hearne, a beloved deacon and U.S. veteran, was out delivering pizzas for Rico's Pizza. It was October 27, 2019, and it would be his final delivery. That night, Hearne was found with gunshot wounds in the 600 block of Grant Street and was pronounced dead at 9:15 p.m. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the back, and his death was ruled a homicide. Initially, his family was under the impression he had suffered a heart attack, a belief that was later tragically corrected by police.
The investigation into the death of the Black/African American man revealed a scene of violence and robbery. Hearne’s vehicle had crashed into a fire hydrant and other cars before it came to a halt. The pizzas he was set to deliver were found untouched in his car, but his bank card and cellphone were missing, suggesting a robbery gone fatally wrong. The community mourned the loss of a man known for his dedication to his family and his church, New Life Outreach C.O.G.I.C.
In August of 2020, a significant break in the case appeared to have been made when two 18-year-olds, Arshield Honeycutt and Melvin M. Brown, were charged in connection with Hearne's murder. The case against Honeycutt was largely built on the testimony of Brown, who was already in custody for a separate homicide. However, the path to justice took another turn in July 2021.
Citing insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, the Lake County prosecutor's office dropped the murder charges against Arshield Honeycutt. While the charges against Melvin M. Brown remained pending, the development was a blow to those seeking closure. The investigation into the murder of Phillip Hearne continued, leaving a family and community still waiting for all the answers.
