Detectives of the Griffith Police Department and the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force are investigating a shooting which occurred just after 9:00 PM on January 9, 2019. A Griffith Police Officer working on the property of Park West Apartments heard what sounded like a car crash in the 1800 blk of N Arbogast St. Upon responding to the area, the officer observed a vehicle leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was seen turning onto Ridge Rd and then it turned into the parking lot of Mansard Plaza, a shopping plaza just blocks away, where uniformed police officers were parked on another detail.

Once the vehicle entered the parking lot, it drove up to the officers at which point officers learned that one occupant of the vehicle had suffered a gunshot wound. An ambulance responded to the scene; and the victim, an 18 year old female with a last known address in Valparaiso, was transported to Northlake Methodist Hospital in Gary, IN, where the victim succumbed to her wounds.

The victim was identified as 18 year old Alayna Ortiz of Portage, IN. Associates of the victim were questioned and released. Investigators are following up on leads received from physical evidence recovered at the scene, eyewitness accounts, and video footage. Anyone with information about the incident or suspect(s) can contact Griffith Police at 219-924-7503 ext 252 or the Griffith Police Anonymous Tip Hotline at 219-922-3085