An Indianapolis man was shot to death on Monday in Portage, the Porter County Coroner’s Office said today.

The victim was identified as Wilson Rivera, 38.

Rivera sustained at least one gunshot wound to the head, Coroner Chuck Harris told the Chesterton Tribune this morning. Harris was hopeful that a forensic autopsy would be conducted later in the day in Mishawaka.

According to Portage Police, at 5:48 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 2100 block of Crisman Road to investigate a report of a suspiciously parked vehicle sitting in the driveway of a residence with its headlights on. The complainant had also advised the dispatcher that he thought he’d heard a gunshot and observed a subject running eastbound from the scene along the railroad tracks.

On arrival, officers found a male subject lying on the ground near the driver’s side of the vehicle. He’d been shot in the head.

“A perimeter was quickly established and the surrounding area was checked with a police K-9 unit and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department helicopter with negative results,” police said.

Although identification found on the body initially indicated that the victim was a Gary resident, Harris said that he appears most recently to have resided in Indianapolis.

Rivera’s family has been notified, Harris added.

Posted 12/11/2013