Christopher Dwayne Peterson: The Shotgun Killer
Background
Christopher Dwayne Peterson, born on January 20, 1969, in Gary, Indiana, is an American serial killer known as the "Shotgun Killer." In the early 1990s, Peterson was implicated in a series of brutal murders across Indiana, characterized by the use of a shotgun, which led to his notorious nickname.
Crimes
Between October 30 and December 18, 1990, Peterson embarked on a violent crime spree, resulting in multiple fatalities. The following is a detailed account of his confirmed victims:
- October 30, 1990: Lawrence Mills - An insurance agent shot to death in his car outside the American Legion Post 66 in Griffith, Indiana. There were no eyewitnesses to this crime.
- October 30, 1990: Rhonda L. Hammersley - Approximately two and a half hours after Mills's murder, Hammersley, who worked at a gas station in Cedar Lake, Indiana, was shot in the parking lot.
- December 13, 1990: Harchand Dhaliwal - Details surrounding this victim's death are limited, but Dhaliwal was among those murdered during Peterson's spree.
- December 18, 1990: Eli and George Balovski - Brothers aged 60 and 66, respectively, were shot and killed. Specific details about the circumstances of their murders are scarce.
Investigation and Trial
The investigation into these murders was complex, spanning multiple jurisdictions in Indiana. Peterson initially confessed to the killings but later recanted, claiming his confession was made under duress. He faced several trials:
- Acquitted in two trials for three of the murders.
- Found guilty in two subsequent trials for four murders.
Initially sentenced to death, Peterson's sentence was commuted to 120 years imprisonment in 2004. Additionally, Ronald J. Harris was charged and found guilty in connection with two of the murders, receiving a 90-year prison sentence.
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