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CROWN POINT — A third defendant charged in a 2019 drive-by shooting that stemmed from a fight at a Munster festival was arrested last week, according to Lake County Jail booking records.
Damajae McKenzie, 27, was taken into custody Feb. 11 in Cook County and extradited Thursday to Lake County, according to online court records. A warrant for McKenzie has been pending since
July 2019.
McKenzie was allegedly in an GMC Yukon on June 22, 2019 on the 2000 block of Ridge Road in Highland with co-defendants Alonzo Kirk and Le'Montrell Johnson when they passed a Chevrolet Impala
full of people they believed they had a disagreement with earlier in the evening. Kirk and McKenzie had been asked to leave a Munster festival after getting into a fight less than an hour
prior, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Johnson and McKenzie aimed their firearms out the passenger side of the vehicle and fired rounds at the Impala. They did not confidently know if the occupants of the vehicle were the same
people with whom they had fought with earlier in the evening, according to a plea agreement in Johnson's case.
The three victims previously told police they were driving around 9:15 p.m. when the Yukon came up behind them and began weaving, according to information in a probable-cause affidavit.
The Impala driver slowed down to allow the Yukon to pass. The Yukon driver changed lanes twice before a passenger reached out the window with a handgun and began shooting at the Impala, the
affidavit said.
Kirk was sentenced in July 2021 to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the offense. The first year-and-a-half was be served on home detention and the remaining time served on
probation. Johnson was sentenced in May to six years in the Indiana Department of Correction with 2 ½ years of the sentence served on home detention and 3 ½ years suspended and served on
probation.
McKenzie's bail was set at $10,000 cash, online court records show. He will make his first formal court appearance March 5.
U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan and Gary Mayor Eddie Melton visit a class at Geminus Head Start's St. Mark Early Learning Academy.
U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan fields questions following a press conference at Geminus Head Start's St. Mark Early Learning Academy.
U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan and Gary Mayor Eddie Melton participate in a memory game in a class at Geminus Head Start's St. Mark Early Learning Academy.
Beth Shrader has come forward to share her disgust with the current firings of federal employees.
Beth Shrader has come forward to share her disgust with the current firings of federal employees.
Closed since 2005, the former site of Beckman Middle School has been left open to the elements, vandalism, and illegal dumping.
Discarded furniture and other detritus litter the ground outside the derelict Beckman Middle School building, now owned by a pair of Illinois real estate investors.
Large piles of debris sit outside the disused former site of Beckman Middle School.
Gary Councilwoman Marian Ivey, who previously held an at-large council seat, is sworn in to represent the city's 4th District following her victory in a Democratic Party caucus on Feb. 19.
Bagnola's bag-Nola: Lowcountry GM Matt Bagnola with a seafood boil bag filled with cajun crawdads.
Bagnola's bag-Nola: Lowcountry GM Matt Bagnola with a seafood boil bag filled with cajun crawdads.
East Chicago Central's Dominique Murphy Jr. takes a shot on Tuesday in St. John.
East Chicago Central's Dominique Murphy Jr. hits a free throw on Tuesday in St. John.
Lake Central's Noah Enyeart and Zachary Greene box out East Chicago Central's Dominique Murphy Jr. during a free throw on Tuesday in St. John.
Marquette's Jiselle Chabes and the rest of the team react to the last shot of the game on Saturday in LaPorte. The shot missed its mark, though.
Marquette's Laniah Davis and North Miami's Grace Sailors dive for a loose ball on Saturday in LaPorte.
North Miami's Kayden Donaldson fouls Marquette's Livia Balling on Saturday in LaPorte.
Marquette's Agnes Pezzuto hits a three-pointer against North Miami on Saturday in LaPorte.
Marquette's Jiselle Chabes is fouled from behind by Lafayette Central Catholic's Carley Barrett on Saturday in LaPorte.
Marquette coach Katie Collignon talks to her team late in the fourth quarter on Saturday in LaPorte.
The pressure was on Marquette's Laniah Davis to sink 3 free throws but she only hit two on Saturday in LaPorte.
Marquette's Marissa Pleasant scores 3 on Saturday in LaPorte.
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