Investigators believe that the fatal shooting of a Portage man on Thursday may be related to a shooting earlier in the day in Gary.

Around 8 p.m. Carl Griffith Sr., 72, was returning home from work as a tow truck driver when he was shot multiple times by a large caliber weapon in front of his house in the 2700 block of Locust Street, Portage Police said.

He was later pronounced dead at Porter hospital.

Witnesses reported seeing “a suspiciously parked dark colored vehicle in the neighborhood for several hours” before the shooting but did not call the PPD at the time, Sgt. Keith Hughes said. “The vehicle left the area quickly after the shooting and a black male subject was seen running to the vehicle just prior to its leaving the area.”

Investigators “have been working diligently around the clock interviewing people and following leads since the shooting,” PPD Sgt. Keith Hughes said. “Police don’t believe the shooting death of Mr. Griffith was a random act of violence in the normally quiet neighborhood.”

Earlier in the day, Griffith filed a report with Gary Police after being shot at in the 3300 block of Kentucky Street, where he went after receiving a call from a woman who purportedly wanted to sell her car, Hughes told the Chesterton Tribune. On arriving at the address, Griffith was approached by a man who displayed a handgun and fired multiple shots at him before the gun jammed, Hughes said.

Griffith then left the scene and filed a report with the GPD.

“Portage detectives are currently working in conjunction with Gary detectives,” Hughes said.

Posted 11/5/2012