PORTAGE, IN – A 22-year-old man lost his life following an argument early Wednesday outside a manufacturing complex in northwest Indiana, according to police reports. Authorities responded to a shooting incident reported at approximately 3:30 a.m. in the vicinity of the 6500 block of Ameriplex Drive, outside the Camaco building.
Upon arrival, police discovered the victim, an employee at Camaco from Burns Harbor, deceased in the staff parking area. Witness accounts indicated an argument ensued between the victim and suspect during a shift change, leading to the tragic shooting. The suspect had fled from the scene of the crime by the time law enforcement arrived.
Le’Nell Jenkins, the victim, had been eager about the prospect of fatherhood with his girlfriend expecting a child soon, his mother shared. “He meant the world to me,” Caroline Jenkins expressed, still grappling with the sudden loss.
Working overnight, she received the devastating call that her son had been shot, unaware initially of the fatal outcome. “I don’t know how bad of an argument it could have been to where you literally took my son’s life,” she lamented. Caroline Jenkins called on the shooter to come forward.
Police confirmed there were no additional injuries and reassured the public of no further danger. They have a person of interest in sight and are actively searching in a nearby town to locate this individual, though it’s unclear if they are also affiliated with Camaco.
Despite the incident, area businesses maintained regular operations. Several police vehicles, crime scene tape, and debris marked the site as police investigations continued later that morning.
Investigators have urged anyone with information to reach out to Detective Tony Dandurand. Efforts to reach Camaco for a statement were not immediately successful.