Gary pair sign plea in 2020 Black Oak murder

Two Gary men signed plea deals Thursday in a 2020 murder.

Mark Windsheimer, 31, and Christopher Dukes, 20, both pleaded guilty to reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony in the Sept. 3, 2020, shooting death of Landen Cowart, 38, of Gary.

Windsheimer and Dukes each face 1-6 years. Their original murder charge alone carried a 45-65 year penalty each.

Each man’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Court documents show both men admitted showing up “uninvited” at Cowart’s home on the 2300 block of Colfax Street, in Gary’s Black Oak neighborhood. Windsheimer and Cowart had “on-and-off” relationships with the same woman. Dukes thought Cowart stole money from his mom.

Windsheimer told the woman to get in the car. Cowart said she wasn’t “going anywhere.”

Both Windsheimer and Dukes shot up the house – with at least 16 bullets, they admitted in court documents. Cowart was hit in the torso and the bullet pierced his heart.

They were each originally charged with murder and attempted murder.

mcolias@post-trib.com