Family reports that Marcus Williams was fatally shot and others injured in a shootout near East 36th Avenue and Massachusetts Street involving Gary.

GARY, Ind. (WLS) — At least one person was killed in a shootout Friday night in northwest Indiana, according to family members.

Relatives identified the man who was shot and killed in front of his family in Gary, Indiana as Marcus Williams.

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According to the victim’s cousin who spoke to ABC7, the incident began when at least three individuals appeared on the street and started shooting. This led to a violent exchange of gunfire, resulting in several people being wounded.

Describing the horrifying moment, the victim’s cousin Judy Spencer recounted, “I heard gunshots while sitting on my bed, and then my boyfriend entered the room to inform me that my cousin was lying on the ground. I rushed to his side, calling out to him and urging him to get up.”

The street where the tragic event occurred was marked by police lights and crime scene tape, disrupting what was previously a peaceful evening with children playing outside. Among those injured in the gunfire was Williams, a father who tragically lost his life after being shot in front of his family’s residence in Gary, Indiana.

Loved ones were forced to watch helplessly as his life was ripped away.

“For what reason, I don’t know,” Spencer said. “And, I was right here and I couldn’t even protect him.”

Family members said it happened just after 5:30 p.m. Friday, outside a home near East 36th Avenue and Massachusetts Street, only a few blocks away from Indiana University Northwest. That’s when, Spencer says, at least three suspects ran up on the block and started shooting.

“They were on feet,” Spencer said. “They came from that way because he was sitting outside talking to his friend.”

Williams’ group, she said, then returned fire.

“My cousin was laying under the tree.one was right here by this black car, and one was on this corner,” Spencer said.

A fourth person injured in the shootout was one of her other cousins, Spencer said. She also said the two other people injured were part of the group who started firing shots.

Once the scene clears, the trauma for Williams’ family remains constant and fresh.

“I’ll never walk past that tree again,” Spencer said.

ABC7 Chicago has reached out to Gary Police for more information, but have not heard back. ABC7 is also waiting to learn the conditions of the other people shot.

So far, there’s no word of any arrests.