Prosecutors have charged Austin Earl Williams with murder in the shooting death of Brent Jones outside Euclid Liquors in East Chicago, according to ABC7 Chicago[1]. This update is based on a single outlet, and the case is ongoing.
ABC7 Chicago reported on Friday, October 2, 2026, that Jones came across a domestic dispute outside the store and was shot. The new report places the shooting “last month.” Earlier reporting dated the shooting to Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Williams' age, residence, and custody status were not stated in the report. He is presumed innocent, and the description of the shooting remains an allegation. The Lake County Prosecutor's Office is handling the case.
What families should do next
A criminal charge is brought by the State. It does not by itself provide compensation to the family of the person who died. A civil wrongful death claim is separate, and in Indiana it is brought by the personal representative of the person's estate. You can read more about the distinction between a survival action and a wrongful death claim.
Families should keep copies of the death certificate, funeral and medical bills, and any police or court records they receive. Records and other evidence can matter when evaluating what evidence supports an Indiana injury claim, although every case depends on its own facts.
Civil deadlines run from the date of death and do not pause while the criminal case moves forward. Indiana's wrongful death statutes, including Ind. Code 34-23-1-1, identify who may bring a claim. The general deadline is two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4.
Why the East Chicago location matters
The shooting happened outside a business in East Chicago, in Lake County, Indiana. A civil claim arising from a death there would ordinarily be filed in the Lake County courts. The police investigation and criminal court file would be central records.
In some cases, Indiana law allows a claim against a property owner when a violent act on the property was reasonably foreseeable and reasonable security steps were not taken. The rules governing a possible negligent security claim are fact-specific. No source has reported facts about security at this location, and nothing in this post suggests that the business or its owner did anything wrong.
Under Indiana's Comparative Fault Act, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, responsibility can be divided among those involved. A claimant whose fault is greater than 50 percent recovers nothing; otherwise, recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps Indiana families understand how a civil wrongful death claim may proceed alongside a criminal case, gathers relevant records, and explains the deadlines that may apply. No outcome can be promised in any case.
If your family needs guidance, you can request a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation and criminal case may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
