In a tragic turn of events, 16-year-old Johnny Peluyera, a White/Caucasian male, was fatally shot on June 13, 2019, in Gary, Indiana. He and his father had traveled from their home in Merrillville to sell an Xbox video game console to someone they had connected with through an online sales application. The meeting was arranged to take place in the 5000 block of Maryland Street.
Upon their arrival, they were met by two individuals. As Johnny's father waited in the car, Johnny was lured away from the vehicle under the pretense of testing the Xbox at a nearby power outlet. At that point, a handgun was produced, and when Johnny attempted to flee back to his father's car, he was shot in the back. His father witnessed the horrific event and Johnny died in his arms.
The ensuing investigation led to the arrest of two teenage suspects, an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old, in early July 2019. The 17-year-old, Garry L. Higgins IV, was charged as an adult with murder, murder in the perpetration of a robbery, attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and attempted armed robbery. His accomplice was identified as Dezman C. Dukes.
In July 2021, Garry Higgins pleaded guilty to attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. In September of that year, a Lake County judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison, with two years suspended in favor of probation. Dezman Dukes was sentenced to 30 days in jail in August for failing to comply with court orders related to the case.
