Gary, Lake County-The family of the victim that suffered a single gunshot wound to his head has been notified.

Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 3:43 am, this morning, Saturday, January 28th, a 1985 Buick LaSabre was south on Cline Avenue near Michigan/5th Avenue when the thirty-one year old, male black, driver from East Chicago and his twenty-four year old, female passenger noticed a slow moving red or maroon Dodge Durango in the left lane.  The passenger stated that they noticed both the front and passenger windows were down on the passenger side as they neared and thought that was unusual.  She related that the Durango slowed down to where it was barely moving when the driver decided to pass it.  They (LaSabre) exited off onto I-80 eastbound and were in the right lane when she noticed the Durango pull alongside them on the driver’s side.  She stated she heard one gunshot and they lost control.

The LaSabre driver veered to the right, hit the concrete barrier wall off the outer shoulder, rolled the Buick onto its top, and hit the wall again.  Both the driver and passenger were able to exit the vehicle and take refuge inside another vehicle that had stopped to see if they were alright (this person did not witness the shooting or crash).

The driver was taken to NorthLake Methodist Hospital in Gary where it was confirmed that he suffered a single gunshot wound to his left temple.  He is unconscious at this time and is being transferred to another hospital.  The passenger was also taken to NorthLake where she was treated and released.

The driver has been identified as:  Brandis France, 31 of East Chicago.  The female passenger was his girlfriend also from East Chicago.
 
Again this is an on-going investigation and anyone with any information is asked to please call investigating Detective Jennifer Richmond at 219-696-6242 Lowell Post.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.