On May 19, 2019, 22-year-old Alan Lavelle Ross Jr. was fatally wounded in a shooting incident in East Chicago, Indiana. The violence occurred in the early morning hours, leading to the tragic loss of the young man, who was affectionately known to friends and family as 'Velle.' Born in December 1996, Ross was a resident of the area and had been present in the vicinity of the shooting when gunfire erupted.
According to reports, the shooting stemmed from a fight that broke out near the 3900
block of Butternut Street. Ross was not the intended target of the violence but was struck by a stray bullet during the altercation. The sounds of gunfire were detected by the city's ShotSpotter technology, which alerted law enforcement to the scene. Officers responded to the alert, but despite the rapid notification, the incident resulted in Ross's death.
As of early 2024, no arrests had been made in connection with the homicide of Alan Lavelle Ross Jr. The case has remained open, with community members and online forums expressing frustration over the lack of justice and closure for the victim's family. While the ShotSpotter system successfully identified the location of the shots, the investigation has not yielded a suspect or led to any charges being filed against the individuals responsible for the firearm discharge that claimed Ross's life.
