MICHIGAN CITY | A 17-year-old girl was fatally shot on Michigan City's east side late Sunday night.
LaPorte County Deputy Coroner Mark Huffman said the victim's body was lying on the edge of the roadway on Liberty Trail close to Krueger Memorial Park south of U.S. 12. He said the discovery was made when emergency responders about 11:15 p.m. received a call of shots fired.
Police have not released any information, but Huffman said the shooting occurred during an altercation.
''That's all I know so far,'' Huffman said.
Friends of the victim identified her as Ne'Keisha Hodges Hawkins.
Brandy Aldridge, 17, said she went to Michigan City High School with the girl who just graduated last month.
''She was a sweet girl. Quiet. Pretty,'' said Aldridge, who was standing in her driveway in the 800 block of Liberty Trail when shots rang out.
''I saw the fire from the gun and I just heard screaming,'' Aldridge said. ''She had a lot of friends. She was very popular."
Aldridge said there was a sweet 16 birthday party at the park, and when everyone was leaving some boys started arguing, and then gunfire rang out. She said a male subject was shot in the leg. Aldridge said her sister was attending the heavily attended party.
''I went out and got my sister,'' Aldridge said.
Barbara Wilson, 69, said she was lying in bed when she heard five shots.
''There was a pop, pop, pop then a pause. Then pop, pop. I then heard all of the kids screaming, screaming, screaming,'' Wilson said.
Wilson said it's the first shooting to occur in her quiet neighborhood in the 39 years she has lived there.
Huffman said an autopsy later Monday will determine how many times the victim was shot.
Read more:
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...l#ixzz1T8f0myh7