In Porter County, Indiana, authorities have identified the 17-year-old boy who tragically lost his life in a shooting on Saturday night. This incident, which also left two other young individuals wounded, occurred during a post-prom gathering at a residence in the northwest part of the state.
The La Porte County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the victim, Javon Townsend, a junior at Michigan City High School, succumbed to three gunshot wounds. He passed away at Franciscan Hospital in Michigan City.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
“He’ll never have the opportunity to graduate or attend his senior prom. So much of his life was taken away unnecessarily,” expressed Alesia Vinson, his grandmother. “The pain is indescribable when tragedy strikes this close to home.”
The shooting unfolded around 11 p.m. at a home located on Liberty Avenue in Pine Township, near Michigan City, as reported by the Porter County sheriff’s department.
In addition to Townsend, an 18-year-old woman and another male juvenile were also injured during the incident.
The mother of senior student Ginger White says her 18-year-old daughter was shot while trying to run away from gunfire, moments after arriving at the party.
“Just gotten out of her car, and that’s when everything blew up,” Ariel White said. “She heard the shots. She took off running. She had realized she had been hit; So she, like, hit the ground then rolled underneath a car.”
White and another 17-year-old boy remain in the hospital in Chicago.
“All the high school kids were going whether they went to the prom or not,” Vinson said.
Shocked neighbors say chaos erupted moments after someone opened fire on a house where there was an apparent after-prom party going on.
Neighbors say the owner of the residence where the shooting happened often rents out the house to vacationers.
The gunfire shattered windows of neighboring homes, too, but didn’t hurt anyone else.
“I can’t describe it. I can’t do nothing but cry. It hurt me,” Townsend’s cousin Jason Mojica said.
Officials with Michigan City Area Schools said the celebration was a post-prom party following prom activities.
“Michigan City Area Schools is aware of the tragic off-campus incident involving several Michigan City High School students following prom activities,” Michigan City Area Schools said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the students, families, and everyone impacted during this difficult time. Counseling and support resources will be available to our students and staff.”
Police said the shooting was believed to be an isolated incident, and started with a fight.
“He gave good vibes when came over our house. And when he came over there everybody was all up on him. My dad told everybody to get away from him, not knowing that was his last day over there, last day coming over there to see us again,” Townsend’s little brother Jalion Yates said.
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information on the shooting.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.