Indiana Teen Fatally Shot While Trying To Sell Xbox: Police

GARY, IN — A Merrillville teen was fatally shot in Gary Wednesday while he and his father were trying to sell his Xbox to people he reportedly met online, Gary Police Department Commander Jack Mahady said, according to several news reports. The Times of Northwest Indiana reported the 16-year-old, identified by the Lake County Coroner's Office as Johnny Peluyera, and his dad met two people in the 5000 block of Maryland Street Wednesday when around 6 p.m., the interested buyers began testing some of the Xbox equipment before showing a handgun, according to Hamady. The teen was shot in the back after his father told him to run to their car.

According to police officials, the teen was still holding the Xbox when he was shot. Peluyera's dad drove away with him in the car and called 911, the news report said, adding that the Lake County coroner pronounced Peluyera dead at 6:47 p.m.

Police are investigating the shooting, looking for the suspects and surveillance footage, the Times said. The suspects are described as two black men in their early 20s or late teens, believed to be from the neighborhood where the incident took place, and were seen wearing hooded sweatshirts and basketball shorts, according to Hamady. Those with information are being asked to call Detective Mike Equihua of the Lake/Gary Metro Homicide Unit at 219-755-3852.

>> Safety tips for buyer-seller transactions

Patch will update this piece as new information comes in.