In the early morning hours of a Wednesday in Merrillville, Indiana, the life of 27-year-old Dennis Ward was tragically cut short. On April 17, 2019, police responded to a call of shots fired in the 7500 block of Hendricks Street around 5 a.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered a harrowing scene. Ward, suffering from a gunshot wound, was attempting to escape through a window of the residence.
Officers aided the injured man, and he was quickly transported to a local hospital.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Dennis Ward succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. The Lake County Coroner's Office later confirmed that his death was a homicide.
As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement officials learned that there were other individuals present in the home at the time of the shooting. Three juveniles were safely removed from the residence. Believing a suspect or other victims might still be inside, the Northwest Regional SWAT Team was called to the scene to secure the house. A thorough search of the home yielded no additional victims or suspects.
Later that same day, Merrillville police took a person of interest into custody near the scene of the crime. Authorities described the shooting as an isolated incident and assured the community that there was no ongoing threat to neighbors. While an individual was questioned in connection with the fatal shooting, online sources available do not provide information on whether this person of interest was formally charged or if any arrests were made in the case. The investigation into the death of Dennis Ward was ongoing, with law enforcement encouraging anyone with information to come forward.
