Two men charged in shooting that injured Addison mom, daughters
Two men have been charged with shooting an Addison mother and her two daughters who traveled Sunday to Hammond, Indiana, to purchase cellphones.
The mom and daughters still are being treated for their gunshot wounds.
Alan Lavelle Ross Jr., 17, and Joseph Alonso Pleasure, 20, both of Hammond, are charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery resulting in serious injury, aggravated battery, attempted armed robbery and other counts, according to an affidavit filed in Lake County, Indiana.
The shooting happened Sunday morning after the 41-year-old Addison woman arranged a meeting with a person on Facebook to buy cellphones. The Facebook user, named "Cashin Out Jo," instructed the woman to meet him in an alley on the 900 block of Highland Street in Hammond, according to the affidavit.
The woman drove to the location with her daughters, ages 15 and 12. But authorities said she became fearful when she saw two men walking up behind her vehicle, so she started to pull away.
At that point, one of the men yelled, "Stop, I have your phone," according to the affidavit. The other man got next to her car, demanded money and then threatened to shoot the woman and her kids.
The woman told police the man started shooting at her car before walking to the other side of the vehicle to shoot at her daughters.
According to the affidavit, the mother was shot in the right hand and arm. Her 15-year-old daughter was shot in the right arm and lower right abdomen, and the youngest daughter was shot in the right hip.
The two men then fled and the injured mother drove the car away looking for help.
Both girls were airlifted in critical condition to a Chicago hospital, authorities said. The mother went to a hospital in Hammond before being transferred to a Chicago area hospital.
On Thursday, Hammond police Lt. Richard Hoyda said all the family members still are recovering from their injuries.
During their investigation, police determined Pleasure was the Facebook user who arranged the meeting with the mother. Pleasure and the victims identified Ross as the shooter, according to the affidavit.