Times Staff Report

Investigators suspect a relative of Archie Strickland Jr. fatally shot him Monday night during an argument, said Gary police Cmdr. Samuel Roberts.

They had taken Strickland's relative in for at least questioning, but it was not clear Tuesday night whether police and prosecutors planned to file charges. Gary detectives said they had no information for public release, and Lake County prosecutor's spokeswoman Diane Poulton could not reached for comment.

Strickland, 30, was at his mother's house in the 1700 block of Garfield Street when he suffered a single gunshot wound to the groin.

Roberts said Strickland and the relative were arguing, and Strickland began hitting his relative. Strickland's mother went upstairs to call police when she heard a gunshot, Roberts said.

Strickland was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. at the Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary.