GARY — A man found inside a burning sports utility vehicle had been shot first, investigators said Monday.
The city’s latest homicide victim has not been identified, a spokeswoman for the Lake County coroner said.
Investigators say they know the victim was a man, but have not determined his race because of the extensive burns.
Gary firefighters were first on the scene about 6:45 p.m. Saturday after someone called about a car fire on the far west side.
Once the blaze was out, firefighters saw a body on the floor in the back seat.
“The fire was so hot it melted the rims,” Detective Cpl. Michael Jackson said.
The man suffered a gunshot wound to the head, Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Jeff Wells said, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jackson said all four doors on the 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee were open, and it appeared an accelerant had been used to set fire to the interior.
The vehicle, registered to an address in East Chicago, was found burning on the south side of the 6700 block of West 5th Avenue, less than one mile from the city limits. The Jeep was parked in a wooded area not far from the four-lane road, police said.
Jackson said the victim’s identity will be confirmed through dental records. He and Detective Dan Callahan interviewed several people Sunday in an attempt to learn more about the victim.
The man police are calling “John Doe” until he is identified is the 27th homicide victim of the year in the city. On this date last year, the city had recorded 29 violent deaths.
Anyone with information about the fire or the victim can contact Jackson, Callahan or any member of the Homicide Squad at 881-1210.
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