Authorities allege Maurice Berry walked inside an East Chicago BP gas station in March 2024 to shoot his longtime on-and-off girlfriend’s next boyfriend.

Instead, he killed 49-year-old Javier “Campa” Olvera, there to buy a few sodas. The other man he was targeting was shot and survived.

Berry, 22, of Hammond, is on trial this week.

He is charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, operating a loaded machine gun, possession of a machine gun and misdemeanor theft. He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer Susan Severtson argued it was self-defense.

Last week, Berry rejected an offered plea deal for murder and a gun enhancement – for up to 85 years.

In opening statements, Deputy Prosecutor Tim Brown told jurors it was a “hit job.”

Berry dropped off his current girlfriend – another woman – nearby at a Strack & Van Til in East Chicago to buy food for Easter. Brown alleged Berry went to the BP gas station – about four blocks north, near city hall – waiting for “his target like he’s some sort of Terminator,” he said.

Once the shooting started, it was “pandemonium” and “chaos.”

The girlfriend who was grocery shopping was “utterly unhelpful” in the police investigation, he said. Olvera’s son was left to perform CPR and futilely try to save his life. The man targeted still has bullet bits lodged in his chest, Brown said.

Severtson acknowledged a “romantic rivalry” led to the shooting. But, the shooting victim and woman had split up by that point.

Inside the gas station, the lawyer alleged the victim reached for something in his windbreaker. Berry turned and fired first.

If he didn’t react, “my client would have met that fate,” she said.

The Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force failed to “confiscate” and analyze their cell phones to see if both men had messaging earlier that day, she said. Weapons were not tested – i.e. compared to casings or bullet fragments.

East Chicago Police responded around 8 p.m. March 30, 2024, to a BP gas station, 4502 Indianapolis Blvd. Olvera was lying on the ground, shot multiple times.

Surveillance video showed Berry pull up in a black Chevy Trailblazer, then go inside holding a concealed object in his hand.

Olvera was already in line. The other man — who was later wounded — walked inside and “looked at Berry.” On camera, the man and Berry appeared to exchange words.

Berry shot at the man. Olvera dropped to the floor “immediately.”

Berry fled in the Trailblazer. The shots were fired within two seconds, leading police to believe the handgun was modified to fire automatically with a switch.

The other man at first claimed Berry “thought he was someone else,” before admitting their connection. He was there to buy a cigar, he said.

The man said he had a gun but didn’t fire it at Berry. The bullet broke the other man’s upper arm with bullet fragments hitting his chest.

Olvera worked for 18 years as a forklift driver at Hammond’s Pacmoore Products, according to his obituary. He loved his family and his favorite sports teams — the Los Angeles Dodgers, Liverpool FC and Club America.

He also loved riding bikes and Mexican music.

The trial is before Judge Natalie Bokota. Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Lanham is also assigned. Det. James Nielsen is the lead investigator. The trial continues this week.

mcolias@post-trib.com