In the spring of 2019, the life of Jalen Sherwood, a 20-year-old male, was tragically cut short. On the afternoon of April 17th, Merrillville police responded to a call of a person shot in the 6000 block of Harrison Street. Inside the residence, they discovered Sherwood, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lake County Coroner's Office subsequently ruled his death a homicide.
Jalen, known to some as 'Jizzle Da Don,' was a graduate of Merrillville High School's class of 2017. He was a talented and passionate basketball player, having played for both Roosevelt and Merrillville High Schools, as well as in AAU leagues. His untimely death left his family, friends, and the community to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a young man with a promising future.
In the wake of the shooting, Merrillville police opened an investigation into the homicide. Authorities appealed to the public for any information that might lead to the identification and apprehension of the person or persons responsible for Jalen Sherwood's death. Detectives urged anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward.
As of late 2025, there have been no publicly announced arrests or naming of any suspects in the murder of Jalen Sherwood. The case remains an open investigation, and the details surrounding the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting have not been released to the public. The lack of resolution continues to be a source of pain and unanswered questions for his loved ones and the wider community, who still await justice for Jalen.
