Gary man kills 4 relatives, self [View All]

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/0/078476-3630-093.html

A Gary man with a history of mental illness fatally shot four family members, including his 2-year-old nephew, then killed himself early today, police said. The suspected gunman's 82-year-old grandmother survived the shooting and was able to call police.

The shooting happened at 5:30 a.m. in the living room of the home the extended family shared on the city's westside. Terry Lee Dennie, 20, who had been estranged from the family and was living on the street, knocked on the door of the home at 3:30 a.m. and was let in by his sister Ladanna Dennie, 18, said Lake County Coroner David J. Pastrick.

With the television still on and the other family members sleeping Terry Dennie began shooting his relatives one by one with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, Pastrick said. Terry Dennie's mother, Angela Walton-Scruggs, 41, was shot once in the head, as was his brother, Darion L. Dennie, 17.

When the shooting started, Ladanna Dennie shielded her 2-year-old son, Isaiah Dennie, to protect him, Pastrick said. Dennie shot Ladanna five times, some of the bullets hurling through her back, Patrick said. The toddler, beneath her, was struck multiple times.

"For whatever reason, he was intent on getting the baby," Patrick said
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A sad statement on the ready/easy availability of guns and the price of putting more mentally ill people on the street.