On a Tuesday evening in Griffith, Indiana, Jermaine Salazar, a 46-year-old man, was shot and killed while walking his dog. The incident occurred on May 14, 2019, in the 200 block of North Colfax Street just after 9:00 p.m. Police believe an altercation preceded the shooting, after which officers discovered Salazar wounded in his driveway. He was transported to Northlake Methodist Hospital in Gary, where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation into
Salazar's death quickly led to a suspect, Juan Guerrero, a 41-year-old man from Griffith. Authorities determined that the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute. Earlier in the day, Guerrero had argued with his ex-girlfriend, who was living with Salazar. The argument was reportedly about the couple being late to pick up the woman's foster son from Guerrero's home.
Later that evening, an angered Guerrero drove to the residence on North Colfax and called his ex-girlfriend, asking her to come outside. When she exited the house, she reported seeing Guerrero armed with a gun. Salazar then came out of the home, at which point Guerrero allegedly opened fire, striking Salazar multiple times in the torso. Guerrero was subsequently taken into custody, and police recovered a 9mm handgun believed to be the weapon used in the shooting. He was later charged with murder in Lake Superior Court and held without bail.
