The victim told police he was chased by a group of people who approached him while he was delivering a pizza to a home in Gary overnight. Six hours later officers on patrol came upon the delivery man's car and found his body inside the trunk.
LaTuan Wiggins aspired to be a rapper but in the meantime the 29-year-old supported his family by working full time as a pizza delivery man. His fiancée, DeJuana Martin, says he was a hard worker, and doesn't know why this would happen to him.
Martin says the last time she talked to her Wiggins was around 12:30 a.m. at the end of his shift as a delivery man for this Merrillville Domino's Pizza. She says he sounded stressed out and ready to come home.
"He said I'm going to stop and get some cigarettes and I'm on my way home," said Martin.
But Wiggins never made it home. Around 6 a.m. Tuesday morning his car was found near 42nd and Maryland in Gary. His keys were in the ignition and his body was in the trunk. Police say he had been beaten and had a gunshot wound to his chest.
"We really need the public's help in finding out who did this so we can at least have some justice for the family," said Gabrielle King, Gary Police spokesperson.
Gary police are investigating both the homicide and the events that happened hours before Wiggins' body was found.
It was around midnight when Wiggins delivered a pizza to the 1500-block to East 51st Avenue in Gary. Police say he told authorities five to six men ran toward him. One had a bat.
Wiggins dropped the pizza, ran back to the Domino's and called police who later brought him back to that location. His car was there untouched and he was given clearance by police to drive away. Then several hours later, he was found dead in his car.
Wiggins' fiancee says she still doesn't believe what happened and that the father of their 6-month old daughter was well known and well liked in their community.
"I still don't believe it. I'm still waiting for him to call my phone," said Martin.
She says the management at the Domino's has been helpful and offered their support. But when asked Domino's would not make any comments about what happened.
At this point, Gary police are not ready to say whether the initial robbery and the homicide are related.
