A tragic incident unfolded in Porter County, Indiana, where a 17-year-old boy was fatally shot during a post-prom gathering, leaving two others injured. The incident occurred on a Saturday night, and authorities have now identified the young victim.
The La Porte County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Javon Townsend, a junior at Michigan City High School, was struck by gunfire three times. He succumbed to his injuries at Franciscan Hospital in Michigan City.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
“He won’t have the opportunity to graduate or attend his senior prom. It’s heartbreaking how much of life he will miss due to this senseless act,” expressed his grandmother, Alesia Vinson. “The pain is indescribable when such tragedy strikes close to home.”
According to the Porter County sheriff’s department, the shooting took place around 11 p.m. at a residence on Liberty Avenue in Pine Township, near Michigan City.
The violent episode also left an 18-year-old woman and another young male with injuries.
Ginger White’s mother revealed that her daughter, a senior student, was shot while attempting to flee the chaos just moments after her arrival 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.
