Seth Jankowski Valparaiso IN Shooting Death, Obituary – Antione Pierson Charged With Murder

When officers arrived at the scene near 58 S. Campbell St., they found Jankowski with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Northwest Health Porter, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Porter County Coroner’s Office.

Antione Pierson Jr., 22, of Portage, was formally charged Monday with murder in connection with Jankowski’s death. He also faces felony charges of unlawful carrying of a handgun and resisting law enforcement.

Camilo Chavez, 22, of Lake Station, is accused of being with Pierson at the time of the shooting. He has been charged with assisting a criminal, a Level 5 felony.

The charges are allegations, and both defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty in court.

Court records say witnesses described two men leaving the scene in a black 2006 Honda Accord. Officers from several area law enforcement agencies joined the search for the vehicle. A Porter County Sheriff’s officer later spotted the Honda traveling west on State Road 130 and initiated a pursuit, according to the probable-cause affidavit.

Surveillance footage and other investigative information helped authorities identify and pursue leads in the case, court records state. The investigation and court proceedings will determine the evidence and circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Jankowski’s death has left family, friends, and others in the Valparaiso community facing a sudden and painful loss. While the information available in the case records focuses on the investigation, the loss of a young person is felt far beyond the immediate scene.

As the legal process moves forward, those who knew Seth will remember him in their own ways and support one another through grief. May his loved ones find comfort and strength in the days ahead.