Charles Ray Branham Jr., 47, known to family as Ray Ray, was fatally wounded in a shooting in Gary, Indiana on the evening of June 21, 2024. A Crown Point resident with deep ties to Gary — he graduated from Wirt High School in 1995 — he was remembered as a former athlete who ran track and played football, a devoted family man who enjoyed cooking and barbecuing, and a proud grandfather. He is survived by his wife Jessica, their eight children, his father and siblings.

He was found with fatal gunshot wounds and died after emergency responders treated him. Funeral services were held at the Geisen Funeral, Cremation & Reception Centre in Crown Point. No arrests or suspects have been publicly announced and investigators describe the case as unsolved. If anyone has information about that June 21 shooting, please come forward.