A promising young life was tragically cut short on the evening of Friday, February 5, 2016, in Gary, Indiana. Mark Skipper, a 15-year-old male from Hammond, was found shot to death inside a parked car in the 800 block of Burr Street. A Gary police officer on patrol discovered the grim scene at approximately 8:30 p.m., finding the driver's side door of the vehicle ajar.
Inside, he found the bodies of two teenagers who had been fatally shot.
The Lake County Coroner's Office later identified the victims as Mark Skipper and 16-year-old Kasreeyal Hester of Gary. The two boys were best friends, and Hester was reportedly out celebrating his birthday with Skipper on the night they were killed. The loss was deeply felt by their families and the community. Skipper's family described him as a lovable young man who was passionate about sports, playing both baseball and football at Morton High School in Hammond with dreams of one day playing professional baseball. He was remembered as a funny and outgoing person who always brought smiles to the faces of those around him.
In the wake of the double homicide, the Gary Police Department and the Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide Unit launched an investigation. Authorities appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of the person or persons responsible for the senseless act of violence. A vigil was held for the two teenagers as their loved ones mourned their sudden and violent deaths. Despite the ongoing investigation and the passage of time, no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the murders of Mark Skipper and Kasreeyal Hester. The case remains an unsolved tragedy, leaving a void in the lives of their families and friends who continue to seek justice.
