On the evening of July 4, 2019, what began as a dispute between drivers on the streets of Hammond, Indiana, escalated into a tragic and fatal encounter for 18-year-old Jorge Emmanuel Roman. The young man, a resident of nearby East Chicago, was driving with another individual when an apparent road rage incident unfolded.
The altercation reached its violent peak near the intersection of 165th Street and Blaine Street around 8 p.m.
It was there that an occupant of the other vehicle involved in the dispute opened fire. Jorge Roman was struck by the gunfire, and his vehicle, now without a driver in control, crashed into a nearby house. The assailants fled the scene, their vehicle heading west into Illinois.
Emergency services arrived to a scene of chaos and tragedy. Jorge Emmanuel Roman was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. The other person in his vehicle was also wounded in the shooting and was transported to St. Margaret Hospital for treatment. Fortunately, no one inside the home that was struck by the vehicle was injured.
In the immediate aftermath, the Hammond Police Department launched an investigation, appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the identification and capture of the person or persons responsible for Jorge Roman's death. Despite these efforts, publicly available information and news reports have not indicated that any arrests have been made in the case. The identity of the suspect or suspects remains unknown, and as a result, there have been no charges, trials, or convictions related to the shooting. The case of who killed Jorge Emmanuel Roman remains unresolved, leaving a family and a community waiting for answers and for justice to be served.
