CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) – Prosecutors have charged a man in the shooting death of a Gary police officer.
Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter announced Thursday that his office had filed a charge of murder against 24-year-old Carl Le'Ellis Blount Jr. of Gary in connection with the slaying of Officer Jeffrey Westerfield on July 6, the officer's 47th birthday.
A probable cause affidavit says Blount was fleeing a domestic disturbance when he encountered Westerfield and shot him with a .40-caliber handgun. Investigators used surveillance camera footage and a photo from Blount's cellphone to link him to the slaying.
Blount also was being held at the Lake County Jail on a charge of criminal recklessness and a warrant from neighboring Porter County.
A telephone message seeking comment was left for Blount's public defender.
