A dispute inside El Sombrero Bar at 2001 Broadway Street in East Chicago escalated into a fatal shooting in the early morning of October 1, 2020. ShotSpotter detected four gunshots about 3:27 AM; officers found 36-year-old Fabian Villagomez on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. The Lake County Coroner confirmed his identity and that his death resulted from those injuries.

Court documents identify 19-year-old David Maximiliano Garza of East Chicago as the suspect. According to those documents, Garza drew a firearm on another man inside the bar; Villagomez was reportedly laughing, then was shot once or twice in the back as he left. Garza allegedly returned to where Villagomez lay and shot him several more times. Two days later Garza was himself shot in the neck and suffered severe injuries, spending three months in intensive care. Garza was charged with murder on November 3, 2020, and his case was set to proceed in Lake Superior Court with Zoom appearances arranged because of his condition.

Does anyone have information about the incident at El Sombrero Bar or about Villagomez’s movements that night?