Indiana teen gunned down in front of father while trying to sell Xbox: 'They killed my son over nothing'
An Indiana teenager was shot and killed in front of his father while trying to sell his Microsoft Xbox gaming console to two men in Gary, Lake County.
According to ABC Chicago, 16-year-old Johnny Peluyera, from the town of Merrillville, was fatally shot after he and his father drove to an area near 51st Avenue and Maryland Street in Gary at about 6:05 pm on June 12.
Police said Peluyera had traveled to the city to meet two people he had contacted through online sales app Offerup in order to sell his Xbox.
The meeting took place in an abandoned home and things quickly went south.
The men, described as being in their late teens or early 20s, tried to rob Peluyera, with one of them reportedly taking out a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband.
At this point, the 16-year-old's father, who was waiting in a car outside the house, yelled at him to drop the Xbox and run back to the car. The teen obeyed and turned to get away but was shot in the back.
He died a few minutes later. The Lake County Coroner officially pronounced him dead at 6:47 pm and determined he died from the gunshot wound. His death was ruled a homicide. The father was unhurt in the shooting.
Kelly Arroyo, the victim's mother, was overcome with grief. "My son is gone," she cried. "My son is never coming back. The emptiness that is in my heart and my stomach and my soul and my body is almost unbearable."
The suspects did not even take the Xbox, and Arroyo said she cannot make sense of why they murdered her son.
"They killed my son over nothing," she exclaimed. "They didn't even get the gaming system. They didn't even get the Xbox so why did they have to shoot him?"
She cursed the perpetrators, saying, "I hope you feel the pain that I feel right now. I want you to live with this the rest of your life."
Police revealed the two suspects are known in the area where Peluyera was shot and killed. They said one was wearing a black hoodie and the other a gray one, and that both were sporting basketball-style shorts.
Speaking about the pair, Gary Police Commander Jack Hamady said, "The two suspects had to be from the neighborhood. They lured [Peluyera] into the area. Someone has to know these guys. In the case of the last teen who was shot, an anonymous tip helped us find the suspect. We are hoping someone will come forward with information this time, too."
Anyone with information regarding the shooting can contact Detective Mike Equihua of the Lake/Gary Metro Homicide Unit at 219-755-3852 or 866-CRIME-GP.