Merrillville man accused of shooting spectator at East Chicago beach buggy show – Chicago Tribune

A Merrillville man is facing charges after shooting a bystander above his right knee at a crowded “car show” on the East Chicago waterfront.

Trey “Swervo” Kelly, 30, was charged Thursday with Level 3 aggravated battery; battery with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony; battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony; and criminal recklessness, a Level 5 misdemeanor.

He was not arrested and was ordered held on $40,000 bail or $4,000 cash bail.

Police responded to the 3300 block of Aldis Avenue on the afternoon of October 1 for a reported shooting.

According to court records, officers learned that “Swervo” had gotten into a shootout in the parking lot with three brothers from a family there around 3:44 p.m.

The attack was captured on city cameras.

The video showed the three brothers standing next to a rose gold convertible near a stage when they were confronted by a group of men, including Kelly and a second man.

The affidavit describes various men “getting in each other’s faces,” drawing their guns and then setting them aside.

The man next to Kelly starts fighting with one of the brothers. As the crowd thins out, footage shows Kelly and the two brothers on the ground.

Kelly gets up, walks a little, pulls out his gun and shoots the men trying to get up. The third brother returned fire. Kelly responded to him.

The victim appears to be shot, falls to the ground, and limps and crawls away, records show. He was then transferred to a hospital in Chicago for surgery. The bullet lodged “between the femur and the kneecap.” He could barely walk and may need knee reconstruction surgery, according to court documents.

Police found 8 .45 caliber bullet casings.

Kelly appears to be the only person charged, according to public court filings.

mcolias@post-trib.com