Tragic Shooting at Portage Business: Young Employee Killed During Shift Change

Expectant father fatally shot amid workplace dispute in parking lot

Photo byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

A devastating incident unfolded early Wednesday morning when a 22-year-old employee was shot and killed in the parking lot of a manufacturing facility during a shift change. The shooting took place at Camaco, located in the 6500 block of Ameriplex Drive, around 3:30 a.m. in Portage, IN, less than an hour from Chicago.

Authorities identified the victim as Le'Nell Jenkins, a Burns Harbor resident, who was found deceased at the scene. Jenkins, whose first child is due shortly after Christmas, was involved in a verbal altercation with another employee just before the fatal shooting.

The alleged shooter, identified as 20-year-old Lupe McGee Jr., fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. Police later apprehended McGee at his home in Merrillville, where he was taken into custody and preliminarily charged with murder.

Jenkins' family is left heartbroken, with his mother, Caroline Jenkins, expressing the depth of their sorrow: "My whole family, we are so distraught right now... I had six kids, now I have five."

Police are continuing to investigate the tragic event and are urging anyone with information to contact the Portage Police Department at 219-764-5705.