On the evening of October 27, 2019, 60-year-old Phillip Hearne was making pizza deliveries for Rico’s Pizza in Gary, Indiana, when he was found with gunshot wounds in the 600 block of Grant Street and pronounced dead at 9:15 p.m. An autopsy concluded he died of multiple gunshot wounds to the back and the death was ruled a homicide. His family initially believed he had suffered a heart attack before police corrected that impression.

Investigators described a violent scene and signs of robbery: Hearne’s vehicle had struck a fire hydrant and other cars before stopping, the pizzas he was delivering remained untouched in the car, and his bank card and cellphone were missing. Two 18-year-olds, Arshield Honeycutt and Melvin M. Brown, were charged in August 2020; testimony from Brown, who was already in custody for a separate homicide, was central to the case against Honeycutt. In July 2021 the Lake County prosecutor dropped the murder charges against Honeycutt, citing insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, while charges against Brown remained pending.

Anyone who knew Phillip, saw him that night, or has information about the shooting or missing items is asked to come forward.