Gary police said Mark Cherry turned himself in to authorities on Monday morning and is currently being held at the Lake County Jail.
Cherry, 21, is charged with the murder of Rolando Correa, 22. Correa was fatally shot during a home invasion in Gary, Ind., in December 2013. Cherry was badly wounded and taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn.
In February 2014, Cherry walked out of Christ Hospital after being left without police supervision. Hospital officials say they could not stop him from checking himself out. He was never under police guard.
According to court records, Mark Cherry was one of three men who on December 1, 2013, broke into a Gary home with the purpose of stealing some drugs. Correa, who was next door with the home owner's brother heard the commotion and went over to try and help. Correa was shot during the ensuing struggle. But so was Cherry, who was later found and taken unconscious to Oak Lawn's Christ Hospital.
Because the hospital is in Illinois, it was up to Gary, Indiana detectives to ask Cook County's assistance in providing an armed guard at Cherry's hospital door, but they never did. The situation has been extremely stressful for Correa's family, who say they just hope the arrest will get them the answers they are looking for.
"It's a huge relief. But there is more out there. He wasn't the only one there. I want the others caught. I just want justice for my step son," said Spring Correa, victim's stepmother.
Because there are no trauma centers in northwest Indiana and all gunshot patients must go to Oak Lawn, Gary police said in a statement Monday they will work closely with the Cook County Sheriff's Department and with Oak Lawn Police to try and prevent situations like this from happening in the future.
