Three people were fatally shot and another died in a fire in Gary within 24 hours, police said.

Officers responded about 5:45 p.m. Thursday to a report of “shots fired and a man down” in the 800 block of South Lake Street, according to Gary police Lt. Thomas Pawlak. At the scene, police found a man shot in the face.

The Lake County coroner declared Terrence Conley, 55, of Gary, dead at the scene, ruling his death a homicide.

About 2:45 a.m. Friday, police received another call for shots fired in the 2100 block of Harrison Street in Gary, according to Pawlak. A man told officers his friend was shot inside the residence, and the victim was shot multiple times, police said.

The coroner’s office declared Louis Watson, 25, of Gary, dead at the scene, ruling his death a homicide.

Police are investigating both shootings as homicides, Pawlak said. Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Jeremy Ogden or Cpl. James Bond of the Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide Unit at 219-755-3852 or the crime tip line at 866-274-6347.

Also early Friday, a 57-year-old man, who has not been identified, died in a house fire in the 2600 block of Stevenson Street, Pawlak said.

Police were called to the scene about 4:45 a.m., where the Gary Fire Department found the man inside the house, he said.

“The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but preliminary reports indicate (the) fire to be accidental,” Pawlak said.

The man’s cause and manner of death are listed as pending with the coroner’s office.

Gary fire and police, along with the Indiana state fire marshal’s office, are investigating the fire, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Mark Salazar with the Gary police arson unit at 219-881-7431 or the crime tip line at 866-274-6347.

Shortly after 5 a.m., the coroner’s office was called to the 4300 block of Roosevelt Street, where Shawn Magerski, 36, of Gary, was found shot, according to a release. Magerski’s death was ruled a homicide, the coroner’s office said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the shooting and had not released further information as of Friday evening.

Gary has recorded four homicides since the start of the year. Edward Norwood, 56, was found dead in his home Monday in the 3600 block of Johnson Street after police located his vehicle with what appeared to be blood inside in the 4200 block of Monroe Street, police said.

The coroner’s office ruled his death a homicide caused by “trauma.”

rejacobs@post-trib.com

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