Homicide Investigation- 100 Block of Herring Gull Lane During the early morning hours of Tuesday March 10th, 2020; Michigan City Police Department Shift 3 Patrol Officers were dispatched to the 100 Block of Herring Gull Lane located in the Canterbury House Apartments on the south side of Michigan City. The 911 caller indicated that a female had been shot and was not breathing. Responding officers arrived at the scene within minutes and encountered a subject in the parking lot in front of the apartment. This subject was detained and identified as 36-year-old Whaiun “Juan” Patterson. Officers then entered the apartment and located a 53-year-old female with suspected gunshot wounds identified as, Sonja Bell. Sonja is Whaiun’s mother and was found by responding officers to be deceased. The La Porte County Coroner’s Office was then contacted along with the Michigan City Police Department’s Investigative Division. Whaiun was brought to the police station where he was interviewed and later transported to the La Porte County Jail where he is being held pending a probable cause determination and the filing of formal charges in LaPorte County Superior Court #1.
We would like to make the public aware that this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the community. Assisting first responders included personnel from the following agencies: Michigan City Fire Department, La Porte County EMS, La Porte County Sheriff’s Department, La Porte County Coroner’s Office, La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office, and the La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center. The Michigan City Police Department would like to extend their condolences to Sonja Bell and her family during this tragic incident. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow morning at Franciscan Hospital with Dr. John Feczko. The police department would ask anyone with information to contact the lead detective on this case, Detective/Sergeant Royce Williams at 219-874-3221 Ext: 1043. We would also like to remind the public that you can contact us via Facebook Messenger and also through our crime tip hotline number of: 219-873-1488. You can always request to remain