MICHIGAN CITY - After suffering a severe head injury in a shooting incident Monday at Normandy Village, Michelle Brown, 28, was in terminal condition at St. Anthony Memorial on Tuesday, said her sister, Elizabeth Brown.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Randolph Sanders, 401 Pearl St., on a murder charge, following a probable cause hearing on Tuesday morning, Michigan City Police Chief Ben Neitzel said. He said Sanders had gunshot wounds in the head and the buttocks, and is expected to be in St. Anthony Memorial indefinitely.
Elizabeth Brown said her sister, a designated organ donor, is being kept alive until organ recipients can be identified. Her father, Robert Brown, was at Normandy Village when the incident occurred, she said.
Michigan City Police Lt. Sue Harrison, commander of the Detective Bureau, issued a statement Tuesday morning stating two officers were dispatched to 2207 Normandy Drive at 5:19 p.m. for a possible shooting. She said a handgun was recovered at the scene.
According to Harrison's statement, a woman was found shot inside a white SUV in front of the residence, and a man was shot and located outside the SUV.
Brown's niece, Clarissa Moore, drove to the scene from South Bend on Monday night and said the white Ford Expedition in the Normandy Village parking lot Monday night belonged to Sanders. Harrison said the vehicle was impounded as evidence.
Neighbors in Normandy Village reported Brown's three children were present when the alleged shooting took place but were physically unharmed. The children were said to be 12, 6, and a few months old. Elizabeth Brown said the children were with her for a time, until Child Protection Services were able to take charge of them.
Brown's Normandy Village neighbors reported hearing a loud argument between Brown and Sanders, who were estranged. The argument ended with the alleged shooting in the parking lot in front of Brown's residence.
MICHIGAN CITY - The Brown family said its goodbyes to Michelle Brown, 29, at noon Wednesday at St. Anthony Memorial. Then, she was taken to surgery to have her heart donated to a 12-year-old Michigan boy, according to her sister, Elizabeth Brown.
Afterwards, the family held a 7th birthday party for her son, Dravvis. Michelle would have turned 30 on Dec. 16, her sister said.
Randolph Sanders allegedly shot Brown in the head during an argument outside Brown's apartment at Normandy Village on Monday evening. The couple had another son, 3-year-old Nickoli. The two boys and Brown's daughter, Diamondd, 11, were at the scene on Monday, along with her father, Robert Brown.
"The baby's a mama's boy and has been asking where his mama is," said Elizabeth Brown.
Sanders is still in St. Anthony Memorial, where he is reported to be recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. Brown said Sanders shot his tongue off and is now blind, after pointing the gun under his chin. He is being charged with murder and police are posted outside his hospital room, according to Michigan City Police Chief Ben Neitzel.
Because the incident is being investigated as a homicide, Brown's body will be transported today to St. Joseph Regional Hospital in South Bend, where an autopsy will be performed by pathologist Dr. Joseph Prahlow.
John Sullivan, La Porte County chief deputy coroner, said he expects to have preliminary results sometime today.
Following the incident, Elizabeth Brown was taking care of the three children. She said Wednesday that she's upset about having the children taken by police and Child Protective Services.
Julie Boyd, Brown's oldest sister, is seeking temporary custody of the children.
"I had no intention of giving them up," Brown said. "It's because I am a convicted felon and have a criminal background." She said she will get a lawyer and fight to get them back, pointing to her GED and four-year work history at Alpha Baking in La Porte.
Elizabeth and Michelle Brown both worked at the La Porte company.
"I've gotten so much support from everybody from my job," Brown said. "I've probably had 50 calls."
Describing her sister, Brown said, "Michelle had this goofy laugh. She was so funny and caring. She loved her kids so much."
The family has not finalized funeral arrangements.
