CHICAGO (CBS) – A man was shot and killed outside of a bar in East Chicago early Saturday morning, according to authorities. Police said around 1:46 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of 140th & Alder Street in response to shots fired. ShotSpotter alerted that four shots were fired in the area. Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive man lying face down in front of Ralo’s Bar located at 3948 Alder Street. The man, identified as Eric R. Douglas, 32, is said to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Medics arrived on the scene shortly after and the man was pronounced dead ..read more

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (CBS) — For families who are grieving or who might have trouble putting food on the table, it might be tough getting presents under the tree for Christmas. As CBS 2’s Marissa Parra reported, one woman in East Chicago, Indiana is trying to save Christmas for families who need it. “You’re seeing Christmas magic,” said Tamye Longoria, president of the nonprofit Paying It Forward. Longoria doesn’t offer mere toy shopping – she’s looking to make miracles. “I’m actually on dialysis, so after I got out of dialysis, I picked (the kids) up and brought them over here,” said Adolph Lom ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — Two people were fatally shot in the head, and found inside an apartment in East Chicago, Ind., police said. Police discovered the bodies around 5 p.m. Tuesday after a friend found one of the victims on a mattress in the living room and called 911. Jamal D. Loving, 26, who lived in the apartment in the 3900 block of Pulaski Street, was shot in the head and left forearm, police said. The second victim, Harold Richardson, 38, was located in the rear bedroom. He was also shot in the head. Both victims were pronounced deceased on scene by the Lake County Coroner’s Office. The Crimin ..read more

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (CBS/AP) — Nearly 100 people have been moved from a nine-story public housing building in northwestern Indiana after inspectors found serious structural problems. The East Chicago Housing Authority ordered 94 residents to evacuate the Nicosia Senior Building on Wednesday, moving them to rooms at three hotels in nearby Hammond. The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that the action came after an engineering firm found “significant structural distress” from splitting and corroding steel in the 50-year-old building’s support columns. Much of the 207-unit building was already va ..read more

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (CBS) — Details were emerging Wednesday afternoon about a chaotic traffic stop that ended with two people getting shot by police in Northwest Indiana earlier. As CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot reported, the police shooting in East Chicago all started over some bad license plates. Following the incident around 9 a.m. at Chicago Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago, a veteran officer was treated at the hospital for a leg injury and released. A new officer – or probationary officer – took action, firing nine shots to stop his partner from getting pinned in their sq ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — A 21-year-old woman was found dead Friday morning, shot multiple times inside a home in East Chicago, Indiana. Police said, around 5:45 a.m., officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert of gunfire at a home on the 4000 block of Fern Street. When officers arrived, they saw several bullet holes in the front window, and when they went inside, they found 21-year-old Angelica Casares lying in a pool of her own blood. She had been shot multiple times, and officers found an AK-47-style rifle with a drum magazine next to her body, along with several spent shell casings. No one was in cus ..read more

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (CBS) — Three people are dead and three others are in critical condition after their minivan was hit by a train in East Chicago early Saturday morning in the 4600 block of Euclid Avenue. Police say they have video of the Honda Odyssey minivan ignoring the train crossing signals just before 1 a.m. and trying to drive around the crossing arm when they were hit by the CSX freight train. Two adults, a 36-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, and a 10-year-old girl were killed in the crash. Three other young boys between the ages of 7 and 10 were treated by officers on scene ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS) — An East Chicago Police detective who was shot while off duty on Sunday is recovering at the hospital, following two successful surgeries. Police said Detective Jeffrey Sanchez was picking up a pizza on the 4700 block of Indianapolis Boulevard around 7 p.m. Sunday, when he got into a “verbal altercation” with two other people, and he was shot five times. Sanchez returned fire, wounding one of his attackers, according to police. The detective was taken to a Chicago area hospital, where he has had two surgeries to repair damage done to his intestines and bowel area, police said. H ..read more

CHICAGO (CBS)– An East Chicago, Indiana officer is recovering in the hospital after being shot while off-duty. According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, shots were fired during an altercation in the 4700 block of Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago around 8 p.m. Sunday. The off-duty officer and a civilian were both shot and a third person was injured. The officer was last listed in critical condition. Police have a person of interest in custody. This incident is under investigation. Also From CBS Chicago: Melrose Park Mayor Apologizes For Profanity-Laden Tirade At Village Meeting ..read more

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (CBS) — An off-duty East Chicago, Indiana police officer was reportedly shot Sunday evening. The Lake County, Indiana Sheriff’s office told the Northwest Indiana Times three people were injured in the altercation. The incident happened around 8 p.m. near 148th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard, the newspaper reported. A civilian was also wounded in the shooting and a second civilian across the street was also injured, the Times reported. The officer was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, the newspaper reported. Also From CBS Chicago: Melrose Park Mayor Apolo ..read more