Gerron
A Michigan City man was arrested and charged with murder Dec. 21, 2016, for the 2011 shooting death of 17-year-old NeKeisha Hodges-Hawkins in Michigan City.
Charles Gerron, 21, who has a lengthy criminal record, was arrested at a Custer Street residence in Michigan City. After obtaining a search warrant, members of the Michigan City Police Department, its SWAT Team, Investigative Division, Street Crimes Unit, and Fugitive Apprehension Street Team, as well as members
NeKeisha Hodges-Hawkins
of the U.S. Marshal’s Service and LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit, made the arrest.
Gerron is charged with murder and is being held at LaPorte County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.
NeKeisha Hodges-Hawkins was shot in the head on July 24, 2011, as she was attending a private family party at Memorial Park on Liberty Trail in Michigan City. A fight broke outside the park hall, the party was shutting down as a result and people were leaving. Another fight broke out at that point and shots were fired; one other person was injured and NeKeisha died of her wounds.
Police continued the investigation since the shooting but had few leads until Nov. 7 of this year. According to the MCPD, Detective Jillian Ashley and Detective Corporal Anna Painter were assigned as primary investigators to look into the new leads as well as review the entire case file, along with assistance from the entire MCPD Investigative Team.
“The Administrative Team of the Michigan City Police Department is elated with the work of both Detective Jillian Ashley and Detective Corporal Anna Painter,” according to an MCPD press release. “For a month and a half, these two detectives have solely worked this death investigation case. Their efforts did not stop at 4 p.m. when their work day ended.” The MCPD also thanked a local group of pastors who worked behind the scenes to convince families whose children had direct knowledge of the case to step forward with key information.