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On Halloween, an Indiana man opened fire on a group of trick-or-treaters, killing one boy, Thomas Delacruz Jr., and wounding another.
Police who arrived in East Chicago, Indiana, at the 3600-block of 167th Street found 13-year-old Thomas Delacruz Jr. shot in the head, and another 13-year-old boy shot in the thigh.
Desmond L. Crews, 23, of Gary, was charged with murder and attempted murder.
Crews — who was arrested after a father of one of the trick-or-treaters chased him — told cops he was handed a gun and felt compelled to shoot as his companions opened fire, court documents show.
The man who allegedly sparked the attack remains at large. Police said an investigation into other possible suspects is ongoing.
Thomas Delacruz Jr.’s mother, Jasmine Anderson, said her son from East Chicago was celebrating Halloween in his grandmother’s neighborhood with an aunt and friends when he was shot.
They took the soul, they took my soul, and I have to wake up like this every day,” said his mother, Jasmine Anderson.
“He just wanted to be a kid. He wanted to be a kid. Kids should be allowed to go trick-or-treating,” his mother said. “Kids shouldn’t have to worry about if somebody is going to roll up on them and shoot them down while trying to collect candy with friends and have fun.”
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A vigil was held Thursday to remember Thomas Delacruz Jr.
Hammond police said the other 13-year-old boy, who was shot in the leg, has been treated and released from a hospital.
“While we are thankful for the community support which led to the arrest of the person of interest, we are heartbroken that such an event could even occur,” cops said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the families of these boys.”
Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of this horrific incident.