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Montana Weathers murder: New details revealed in July 4th shooting that killed 10-year-old
A man accused of opening fire on a Gary home after a Fourth of July gathering has been charged with murder in the death of a 10-year-old boy and is being held without bond.
CHICAGO - A Chicago man charged with killing a 10-year-old Chicago boy during a Fourth of July gathering in northwest Indiana is due back in court Wednesday morning for a formal hearing.
Gary murder suspect due in court
The backstory:
Ernesto Posadas is charged with murder, three counts of attempted murder, weapons offenses and vehicle theft in connection with the July 5 shooting.
Prosecutors said the shooting happened just before 1 a.m. at a home on Chase Street in Gary where family and friends had gathered to watch fireworks.
Court records say 10-year-old Montana Weathers was shot in the head and died. A 51-year-old man was also shot and listed in critical condition at the University of Chicago Hospital.
According to court documents, witnesses told investigators Posadas had been at the party earlier in the evening but left after arguing with his girlfriend between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Witnesses said Posadas later returned, and gunfire broke out outside the home. One witness told police they tried to push Weathers out of the way, but after the shooting stopped, the child was found lying on the ground.
Investigators recovered eight to 10 shell casings from the sidewalk. Witnesses said they saw two gunmen run to a black minivan, where another person was waiting to drive away. Someone inside the home also fired shots at the van as it left.
Police said Ring doorbell video captured the minivan's license plate and showed at least two shooters. Investigators also said one of the gunmen appeared to be wearing the same Chicago Bears shirt Posadas had on when he arrived at the party earlier that night.
Using the license plate and license plate reader technology, investigators tracked the minivan that afternoon on July 5. Police stopped the vehicle on Interstate 80/94, where court records say Posadas identified himself as the driver.
Investigators said Posadas first denied being in Indiana but later admitted he attended the party. He denied returning to the home after leaving.
Prosecutors also said Posadas has a previous violent felony conviction in Cook County from a 2018 aggravated kidnapping case. They also said he was out on bond in a separate Cass County case at the time of the shooting, though no details about that case were discussed.
What's next:
Posadas remains jailed without bond. He is scheduled to appear Wednesday morning in Lake County court for a formal hearing.
Weathers' family is expected to be in the courtroom.
The video at the top of this story is from a previous FOX Chicago report.
The Source: The information in this story came from court documents and previous FOX Chicago reporting.