In the spring of 2018, the life of 30-year-old Markis D. Square was cut short in Gary, Indiana, under circumstances that would prove to be far more complex than they initially appeared. On the afternoon of April 18th, Square was fatally shot at Ocampo's Auto Sales on West Ridge Road. The initial narrative presented to the public was that of a robbery gone wrong, where a customer had acted in self-defense, shooting one of the supposed assailants.
The Lake County Coroner's Office subsequently ruled Square's death a homicide.
However, as the Gary Police Department delved deeper into the investigation, the story of a justified shooting began to unravel. What emerged was a calculated plot to commit murder, with Square as the unsuspecting victim. Investigators discovered that the owner of the auto dealership, Eric M. Ocampo, had orchestrated a fake robbery as a means to kill Square. Ocampo was later charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
The investigation revealed that Ocampo had enlisted the help of another man, Jeron Williams, to stage the phony robbery. Williams, who was 21 at the time, was also charged in connection with the elaborate and deadly scheme. While Ocampo was the architect of the plan, Williams played a crucial role in its execution. The motive behind the fabricated robbery and targeted killing was not immediately made public. The case highlighted a shocking level of premeditation and deceit, turning a supposed act of self-defense into a cold-blooded murder investigation.
The wheels of justice turned, and both men involved in the death of Markis D. Square were held accountable for their actions. Jeron Williams eventually pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In a subsequent trial, a jury found Eric M. Ocampo guilty of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and other related charges. For masterminding the plot that led to Square's death, Ocampo received a 60-year prison sentence, bringing a close to a case that began as a purported self-defense shooting and ended as a conviction for a meticulously planned murder.
