La Porte County deputies arrested a Westville man on June 16 in connection with a June 8 fatal shooting, according to the sheriff's office. John T. Jackson, 35, has been charged with murder in the death of 64-year-old James D. Williams and is being held at the La Porte County Jail on a $1,000,000 bond. Authorities say the investigation is still very much underway.
Deputies first responded at about 6:53 p.m. on June 8 to a residence in the 2900 block of U.S. 20, where they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene and later identified as 64-year-old James D. Williams. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division then took over the case, as reported by WKVI.
Investigation and Arrest
In a Facebook post announcing the break in the case, the La Porte County Sheriff's Office said criminal-investigations detectives "gathered evidence and interviewed subjects who provided helpful information" before taking Jackson into custody on June 16. He is being held on a $1,000,000 bond. Investigators have forwarded their findings to the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the La Porte County Circuit Court as the case moves into its next phase, according to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office.
Custody and Local Records
Jackson is currently housed at the La Porte County Jail. Public listings for the county facility show the jail at 809 State Street in LaPorte and include contact and visitation details for family members and legal counsel. Those records are available at IndianaCountyJails.org.
Legal Status and How to Help
The sheriff's office stressed that arrests and criminal charges are only accusations and that every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. With the investigation still active, anyone with information is asked to contact Chief of Detectives Capt. Andy Hynek at [email protected] or by phone at (219) 326-7700 ext. 2401, per the La Porte County Sheriff's Office.
