Crime
Person of Interest Caprice Cashaw in Custody After Deadly Shooting at Hammond Portside Pub, Victims Identified
HAMMOND, IN – A person of interest, identified as 34-year-old Caprice Edward Cashaw, is in custody following a mass shooting at a Northwest Indiana pub early Sunday morning that left five people shot, including two fatalities, according to authorities.
Hammond Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire at Portside Pub, located at 1516 Indianapolis Boulevard, around 4 a.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered five individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.
Tragically, two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
One of the deceased victims was identified by colleagues as a bartender named Paul.
The second victim was a woman identified by family members as Lorraine Reyna.
Authorities believe the shooting stemmed from a domestic-related incident, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Of the three surviving victims, two remain in serious condition, while the third has been stabilized.
As the investigation continues, one southbound lane in the 1500 block of Indianapolis Boulevard remains closed.
Hammond Police urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact Detective Lt. Marc Ferry at (219) 852-2906.
Cashaw, a resident of Merrillville, has a criminal record that raises questions about why he was not previously incarcerated. In 2022, he was charged after allegedly attempting to run over an Indiana Gaming Commission agent at an East Chicago casino. Despite the severity of the incident, he was charged with criminal recklessness—a Class B misdemeanor—rather than attempted murder, a felony.
Court records indicate that the case against Cashaw has been repeatedly delayed, with at least ten continuances over the past three years, preventing his conviction and potential incarceration.
“This is a tragic situation—one that could have been prevented,” a law enforcement official stated. “Cashaw should have been in jail for endangering that gaming agent, not out on the streets, where he ultimately took two lives and wounded three others.”
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about repeat offenders and delays in the criminal justice system.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s deadly shooting.
Crime
Agent Nic Graham Dies After Being Shot in Lakewood Police Shootout With Suspect Gabriel Garcia on RTD Bus
LAKEWOOD, Colorado — A Lakewood police agent who was critically wounded during a shootout with a suspect aboard an RTD bus has died, authorities confirmed. The fallen officer was identified as Nic Graham, a member of the Lakewood Police Department since 2019.
Graham was among four police agents injured Thursday evening when an armed confrontation erupted near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. A civilian bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The shooting followed a police search for a suspect connected to a hit-and-run crash reported earlier in the day.
Police said the incident initially began shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday, following a hit-and-run collision near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue in Lakewood.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect ran away almost immediately after the crash. However, they provided officers with a description that helped police identify and search for the individual.
Lakewood Police Public Information Agent John Romero said witnesses were able to give officers a useful description of the person who fled the scene.
Several hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Lakewood police agent recognized the individual boarding an RTD bus near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Officers approached the suspect at approximately 6:32 p.m. Police said the individual opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Responding officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Gabriel Garcia.
Garcia was reportedly on parole when the shooting occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Four Lakewood police agents suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Their injuries ranged from serious to critical, and all four were transported to nearby hospitals.
Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Graham later died from his injuries.
One civilian bystander was also hit by gunfire and hospitalized. The person’s condition had not been publicly disclosed as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital updates released Friday morning indicated that two agents treated at Denver Health Medical Center had been released. Another remained hospitalized, while officials had not provided a complete update on the remaining injured individuals.
Graham began serving with the Lakewood Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the police academy.
Throughout his law enforcement career, he contributed to criminal investigations and earned recognition for his work.
One of his notable achievements came in 2023, when he received the department’s Special Investigations Unit Wingman Award for his contributions to investigations targeting gang members.
Police Chief Philip Smith paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chief Smith said Graham demonstrated those qualities throughout his career, from his early days on patrol to his investigative work.
His death has left the department and the wider Lakewood community grieving the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to public service.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.
The shooting resulted in the death of suspect Gabriel Garcia, the fatal injury of Agent Nic Graham, injuries to three additional police agents and a civilian bystander.
Officials have not released a final investigative account of the incident. Further updates are expected as investigators establish the complete sequence of events.