A La Porte County jury on Friday, October 23, 2026, found Lamar Friend, 45, of La Porte guilty of murder in the shooting death of Leland Collins, 34, of Michigan City, according to the La Porte Herald-Dispatch[1]. Friend was found not guilty of attempted murder, the paper reported.
According to the Herald-Dispatch, the shooting happened at about 7:34 p.m. on Monday, August 9, 2021, in a store parking lot at 1509 East Michigan Boulevard in Michigan City. The jury deliberated for more than five hours.
Sentencing before Judge Jamie Oss has not been scheduled. The reported sentencing range is 45 to 65 years. This account relies on a single published source.
What families should do next
Families who lose someone to violence may wait years for a criminal case to end. You can keep copies of medical, funeral, and insurance records, and ask the prosecutor's office about victim services. A practical guide to preserving evidence for an injury claim can also help you organize important records.
A criminal verdict and a civil wrongful death claim are separate. Civil deadlines may continue to run while a criminal case is pending. You can review general information about Indiana wrongful death claims and seek advice early about the deadline that may apply to your circumstances.
Why location matters in Indiana injury claims
The shooting happened at 1509 East Michigan Boulevard in Michigan City, in LaPorte County. A civil case would usually be filed in the county where the injury happened or where a defendant lives.
Indiana wrongful death claims are governed by Ind. Code 34-23-1-1, and most claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. Indiana divides fault among those involved under Ind. Code 34-51-2-6. You can read more about wrongful death filing deadlines. No source has suggested that any business or property owner was at fault here.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps families across Indiana who have lost someone because of another person's wrongful conduct. Chad Delventhal can explain how Indiana wrongful death claims work, which deadlines may apply, and what records should be preserved.
The firm offers a free case evaluation. No outcome can be promised in any case.
This post is based on public reporting, the matter may remain ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
