Traffic stop leads to murder charge for Gary homicide

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Updated: March 23, 2012 8:17AM

GARY — A traffic stop here Monday led to murder charges Tuesday against a Glen Park man accused in the August 2011 shooting death of Juan Nieves.

Jory D. Peters, 27, of 3534 Jackson St., was charged with murder, attempted murder, attempted battery and criminal recklessness.

Police stopped him for a traffic violation, then discovered he did not have a valid license and later found marijuana. Peters was also charged with those crimes Tuesday.

Once in custody, Peters admitted he was near a gas station at 25th and Broadway Aug. 14 when a shooting occurred. Although Peters claimed he only heard gunfire, police reviewed surveillance tape of the area and determined he and the victim were in the same place at the same time.

One surveillance video shows the victim’s truck crashing into a weeded lot after a close encounter with Peters’ “distinctive” green Chrysler 300 with black and white checkerboard sides, the probable cause affidavit states.

Witnesses told Detective Sgt. Larry Robertson that Peters followed a relative of the victim through the city. The relative called Nieves and warned him that Peters was in the area, knowing that Peters had accused Nieves of robbing him.

A second suspect has been charged with attempted murder and is not in custody, police said.

Reach reporter Lori Caldwell at 648-3258.