On March 15, 2021, 18-year-old Tyree Na’Quan Riley was shot and killed in the parking lot of Merrillville High School after a confrontation between two groups that had gathered to settle a dispute. The conflict reportedly began over a disagreement involving a TikTok video and a young woman and had escalated into a planned fistfight between Riley and another individual from Michigan City. After the fight ended and people were leaving, Riley was in a vehicle attempting to depart when shots were fired. He was struck in the chest and died; the 19-year-old driver suffered a graze wound to the head.

Investigators identified Leonard Young, who had come with the opposing group from Michigan City, as the person who fired into the departing car. Young was arrested and initially charged with murder. In October 2021 he pleaded guilty to reduced charges including reckless homicide and battery with a deadly weapon, both Level 5 felonies, and the murder count was dismissed.

Anyone who was at the high school parking lot that night or who has information about the events leading up to the shooting is asked to come forward.