Four in custody in murder at Merrillville apartment complex

Four people are in custody and police are offering a $10,000 reward for information after a 55-year-old man was shot to death during a robbery at an apartment complex Wednesday in northwest Indiana.

Several men were breaking into cars parked at the Tan Tar A Apartments at 150 E. 59th Ave. in Merrillville, Indiana, at 5:11 a.m. when they saw Cecil Pendleton Jr. and tried to rob him as he was getting in his van to go to work, according to a statement from the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force.

The suspects were seen running from the scene after the shooting.

Four people were taken into custody and three handguns were seized by police late Wednesday evening, a statement from the task force late Thursday afternoon said.

“The arrests were made in the vicinity of the homicide scene and at a local hotel,” the statement said. “Charges are pending against the four, who are being held at the Lake County Jail and the Lake County Juvenile Center.”

And while police consider the four as “potential persons of interest,” they are still asking for the public’s help.

Merrillville Police Chief Joe Petruch Thursday announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killers.

Officers arrived at the scene after a call of three men shooting at a man inside his vehicle, and found Pendleton shot inside his van, police said.

He was taken to Methodist Hospital Southlake in Merrillville, where he was pronounced dead at 6:19 a.m., according to the Lake County coroner’s office.

The Task Force is investigating along with Merrillville police, the federal ATF, Lake County sheriff’s Crime Lab and coroner’s office.

Anyone with information should call Merrillville police at (219) 769-3722, ext. 347, or click on the “Submit a Tip” tab. at nwimajorcrimes.com.