Lake County~ The Crown Point teenager who was tragically shot late on Sunday night during what appears to have been a gun prank has been identified as Jason Paholik, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office, which made the announcement on Tuesday.
According to the coroner’s office, the autopsy was carried out on Monday, but the official cause of death has not yet been determined.
After being shot in the chest at 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, the ambulance team from Crown Point Fire Rescue and county police officers fought to save the life of the small kid, but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect, a young man aged 18, has been identified as the person responsible for the shooting, and he was initially transferred to Franciscan Health Crown Point for evaluation before he was placed under arrest.
According to Martinez, the incident took place in the backyard of a house located in the 12000 block of Burr Street. At the time, the 18-year-old and Paholik were with friends in the backyard when the older man brought out a revolver as a prank. Martinez stated that the rifle went off accidentally.
He did not elaborate on the nature of the joke, but Paholik was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest when the weapon discharged.
During the preliminary investigation that the county police department did, they found a weapon concealed within a backpack that was found at the scene. Martinez confirmed that the weapon had been delivered to the Lake County Crime Lab for examination.
The identity of the young man or woman who is now 18 is now unknown.
Martinez says that the investigation into what happened is still ongoing at the police department. In addition, he has requested that anyone who has additional information regarding it get in touch with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible.
In a statement to the victim’s family and friends, he added, “The Lake County Sheriff’s Department extends its deepest condolences during this tragic time.”
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