Elijah Emmanuel Nolan, a 19-year-old male, tragically lost his life on April 7, 2018, following a shooting in Hammond, Indiana. The incident unfolded in an empty field in the city's Robertsdale section, near 116th Street and Myrtle Avenue. Nolan was discovered with a gunshot wound to his chest and was rushed to Franciscan Health Hammond, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the young man's death revealed that the shooting occurred during a prearranged sale of a MAC-10
submachine gun. Nolan was reportedly attempting to sell the weapon, which he had allegedly stolen from a friend of the individuals he was meeting. An argument erupted between Nolan and the potential buyers, escalating into a fatal exchange of gunfire. A witness who had accompanied Nolan to the location told authorities that Nolan and one of the suspects, Derrel McLaurin-McNutt, shot at each other, though it was unclear who fired the first shot.
Three cousins were identified as suspects and subsequently charged with murder and armed robbery in connection with Nolan's death. They were identified as 20-year-old Charles Wilson III of Gary, and brothers 21-year-old Derek McLaurin-McNutt and 19-year-old Derrel McLaurin-McNutt, both of Whiting. Derrel McLaurin-McNutt sustained gunshot wounds to his legs during the incident and received treatment at a local hospital. Evidence gathered by investigators included witness testimony and surveillance footage from a nearby alley that captured multiple individuals fleeing the scene after the shooting. The footage also reportedly showed Derek and Derrel McLaurin-McNutt returning to the area. Further investigation indicated that Derek McLaurin-McNutt had attempted to sell the weapon on Facebook following the deadly encounter.
