Blake Blakemore, 26, of Gary, Indiana, was one of two people killed in a shooting at Hammond’s Memorial Park during the Hammond Day Festival on the night of July 3, 2021. The festival crowd heard gunfire shortly after 11 p.m.; four people were shot in total. Blakemore and 20-year-old Larry Brown Jr. of Chicago died from their injuries. Two other victims were wounded and reported in stable condition.

The Hammond Police Department opened an investigation and appealed to the public for information. Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. later announced the festival would be canceled in future years because of safety concerns.

If anyone was at Memorial Park that night or has information that could help investigators, please come forward.