Gary: Lake and Porter counties just dropped their 2024 homicide stats, and it’s pretty interesting. Gary had the highest numbers in Lake County, while Portage led in Porter County.
Porter County recorded eight homicides this year. Three were in Valparaiso and four in Portage. Interestingly, one victim from 2010 passed away in a nursing facility in Porter County.
Last year, they only had two homicides. The coroner, Cyndi Dykes, mentioned that since she took the job in 2019, the county usually sees between two and four homicides a year. Most of these incidents happen in Valparaiso and Portage.
Gunshot wounds are the main cause of these homicides, but no clear trends have emerged over the years. Four of the victims were in their 20s, including one woman and three men.
Lake County had a total of 65 deaths in 2024, with 24 of those in Gary. The Chief Deputy Coroner, Yvette Manfredy, noted that ten victims died at Methodist Northlake Hospital, and one at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Gary.
According to a news release from the Gary Police Department, the city saw 40 homicides this year, which is a 23% drop from 52 in 2023. This is the lowest number since 2018.
The police department’s closure rate for homicides was 74%, which is better than the national average of about 58%. Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon expressed pride in the community’s efforts to reduce crime.
He said, “I believe it’s a move in a positive direction. The citizens make sure that when we receive information, we’re being held accountable.” He’s hopeful for continued progress into 2025.
Hammond had ten homicides in 2024, but the coroner’s stats say there were 13. Nine victims died in Hammond, which is up from six in 2023.
Cpt. Steve Kellogg mentioned that the changes in homicide rates can be tricky to explain, but the HPD is dedicated to improving public safety.
East Chicago has seen a significant drop in homicides, down 69% over four years. The city had four homicides in 2024, with a 100% clearance rate last year.
Chief Jose Rivera credited their success to teamwork and technology, saying, “This type of hard work by all my officers is worthy of recognition.”
In Lake County, there were also two homicides in Crown Point, two in Lake Station, and one each in Hobart and Whiting. Some victims were from nearby Illinois towns.
