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Mark A. Harrison III, 29, will serve seven years of the sentence in the Department of Correction and three years in Lake County Community Corrections, a work release program. Ten years is the maximum sentence allowed under his plea agreement, in which he agreed to plead guilty to aggravated battery in exchange for multiple other charges being dropped, including multiple counts of attempted murder, battery and attempted battery.
"There's nothing I've heard today that explains why this horrible, selfish act was committed," Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota said. Harrison and two other men were in dropped off April 1, 2018 in an area near an apartment complex in East Chicago, according to court records. The victim told police she heard gunshots nearby.
The woman was struck in the back, which resulted in rib and spinal fractures. She is now unable to perform routine care for her children due to the injury. "She suffers with the continuing fear of an increased disability if the bullets shift [in her body,]" Bokota said.
Police found 32 spent shell casings from different caliber weapons near the scene. Surveillance footage from nearby apartment buildings allegedly show Harrison leaving a building with another man, identified as Larzel Lockhart, and get into a small black vehicle, court documents show. Lockhart faces similar charges and his case is still pending.
Charges were dropped against a third defendant in the case, Marzell Walden Jr., in 2018. Defense attorney John Cantrell said Harrison spent two years in jail before he posted bond in the case and his time incarcerated "has changed him.
" "Twenty-[two]-year-old Mark is way different than the person you see today," Cantrell said. Harrison turned to address the woman, who was present in court, and said he sincerely apologized for what happened..
