An East Chicago man is facing a murder charge after allegedly shooting another man dead on the sidewalk Sunday after a brief argument.
The victim had just put his child into another car before he was shot, documents show.
Christian R. Maldonado, 22, was also charged Monday with dealing in cocaine, unlawful carrying of a handgun and a misdemeanor.
He is also facing a firearms enhancement that could add up to 20 more years if convicted.
Maldonado is in custody, held without bail.
The victim, Luis Ramirez, 27, of East Chicago, was shot once in the head, according to the Lake County Coroner’s office. His death was ruled a homicide.
East Chicago Police responded at 3:38 p.m. Sunday to W. 145th St. and Northcote Avenue.
Ramirez was lying dead on his back on the sidewalk, records show. A .380-caliber bullet casing was nearby.
A witness told officers Ramirez had put a child in the car. An unknown man walked up to Ramirez and got into an argument. The car had just driven off before the shooting, charges show.
After the shooting, Maldonado ran north two or three blocks to his home.
Witnesses described the alleged shooter as a 6-foot tall light-skinned Hispanic man with a ponytail, wearing a white sweatshirt with a black/white diagonal split on the back with “23”.
At Maldonado’s home, officers saw a man walk out the back door. He turned and went back inside. Officers surrounded the home and ordered him out.
East Chicago city cameras appear to show the two men in an argument before Ramirez collapses.
Maldonado denied he was in the area. He said he stayed home in a T-shirt and shorts that day. When detectives told him it was a homicide investigation, he asked for a lawyer.
A witness told officers Maldonado said he was going to his grandma’s house to get food, but returned with nothing.
After a search warrant, police found a .380-caliber handgun wrapped in grey sweatpants on top of a basement air duct. They found the same Jordan sweatshirt seen in the video, as well as 27 grams of suspected cocaine and a scale.
The gun was likely stolen from Illinois, according to the affidavit.
A court date has not yet been set.
mcolias@post-trib.com
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