Jurors convicted a Hammond man on all counts Thursday of shooting, hog-tying and beating a co-worker.

Aric Fulton, 52, of Hammond, was charged with attempted murder, robbery, criminal confinement, aggravated battery, strangulation and two counts of battery. He claimed self-defense, saying he was trying to protect himself from the victim’s attack. The jury deliberated for over three hours. His sentencing date is scheduled July 18.

Court documents state Fulton told the victim he was the “black Jeffery Dahmer.”

The victim told police Fulton invited him to his apartment Nov. 22, 2022, to celebrate Fulton’s 50th birthday. He appeared drunk when the victim showed up.

He and Fulton played pool inside the apartment. Fulton told a couple visiting him briefly it was “time to leave,” then locked the deadbolt on his apartment door, charges state. Fulton told the victim he took the key to his deadbolt. They argued before Fulton took out a revolver and shot the victim in the left thigh as he ran behind the pool table, documents state.

Fulton forced him to strip to his underwear and later threatened to kill his family if he went to the police, the affidavit alleges. Fulton allegedly hog-tied him with an extension cord and tow strap, then beat the victim with a golf club.

At one point, when Fulton dropped the revolver, the victim tried to grab it, but his hands were still tied. Fulton choked him until he lost consciousness at least twice and dragged him around the apartment with the extension cord around his neck. The gun was not recovered.

The victim said he woke up in a garbage bag that “smelled like bleach” in an enclosed porch. The victim also said he got kicked down a flight of stairs to a basement that had a light and chair.

The man said he begged Fulton to let him go promising he wouldn’t call the police. Fulton allegedly put the bag over his head and walked him to his car. Fulton drove a “short distance” before he stopped the car, cut the restraints and let him go. The victim drove home where the relative called the cops, the affidavit states.

Hammond Detective Shawn Ford said in testimony there wasn’t a picture of the victim’s ID found on Fulton’s phone.

He speculated he had time to erase his phone after a landlord said police was looking for him.

mcolias@post-trib.com