Cops: Father says he shot son to death in northwest Indiana

A man was fatally shot by his father Saturday night in northwest Indiana, police said.

Officers responded at 9:13 p.m. to a call of a shooting at home in the 1200 block of 97th Place in Crown Point after a man told a dispatcher that he’d shot his adult son, according to Crown Point police.

As they were arriving at the home, the officers were met at the front door by the father, who confirmed that he’d shot his son, 38-year-old Jerome Wilderness Jr., police said.

Wilderness, of Merrillville, Indiana, was found lying unresponsive on the basement floor with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. His daughters, twin 1-year-old girls, were found sitting in the room with him.

The girls, who were not injured in the incident, were then removed from the room, and Wilderness told officers that his father shot him while being treated at the scene for his wounds, police said.

Wilderness was taken to Franciscan Crown Point Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:25 p.m., according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office. His death was ruled a homicide.

Over the course of their investigation, detectives learned that Wilderness and his father had been involved in a verbal argument that “turned physical,” police said. During the struggle, the father pulled out his handgun and shot his son several times before calling police to report the shooting.

The father is being held at the Lake County Jail, police said. Police are expected to meet with prosecutors Tuesday to discuss the filing of formal charges against him.

Wilderness’ daughters were released to a family member, police said.