In Gary, Indiana, a vibrant Tuesday night at Thumbs Up Bar on South Lake Street turned deadly, leaving a community in mourning and a family grappling with an unimaginable loss. On August 19, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the sharp crack of gunfire shattered the evening’s rhythm, transforming a local gathering spot into the scene of a chilling homicide.
The victim, 34-year-old Robert Gaskin, a lifelong Gary resident, was found collapsed just outside the bar at 620 S. Lake Street. Gary Fire Department EMS rushed to the scene, but despite their efforts, Gaskin was pronounced dead on-site, his life extinguished by multiple gunshot wounds. The Lake County Coroner’s Office, following a meticulous autopsy at their Forensic Center in Crown Point, confirmed the grim reality: Gaskin’s death was a homicide, a stark act of violence that has left the city reeling.
According to investigators, the tragedy unfolded swiftly inside the dimly lit confines of Thumbs Up Bar. Witnesses recounted a tense moment—a brief, heated exchange of words between Gaskin and an individual whose identity remains closely guarded by authorities. What began as a fleeting confrontation escalated in an instant, with the suspect drawing a weapon and firing on Gaskin. The chaos spilled outside, where Gaskin fell, his life slipping away under the neon glow of the bar’s signage.
But the story doesn’t end in despair. Thanks to the quick thinking and courage of those present, the suspect didn’t slip into the night. Witnesses provided police with a detailed description, enabling officers from the Gary Police Department to track down and apprehend the alleged shooter nearby, mere moments after the incident. This swift response, bolstered by the community’s cooperation, underscores a collective resolve to seek justice in the face of tragedy.
Authorities have emphasized that this was no random act of violence. The shooting, they believe, was an isolated incident, rooted in the fleeting altercation that unfolded inside the bar. The community, they assure, faces no ongoing threat, but the loss of Robert Gaskin—a son, a friend, a neighbor—casts a long shadow over Gary’s streets.
The investigation presses forward with unrelenting focus. The Gary Police Department, alongside the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigators and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force, is piecing together the final moments of Gaskin’s life. Every detail, from the words exchanged to the trajectory of the bullets, is being scrutinized to ensure justice is served. Formal charges against the suspect are expected soon, a step toward closure for a grieving family and a shaken city.
In a heartfelt statement, the Gary Police Department extended its deepest condolences to Gaskin’s loved ones, acknowledging the pain of a life taken too soon. They also expressed gratitude to the community, whose vigilance and cooperation were instrumental in the suspect’s rapid arrest. In a city too often marked by hardship, this moment of unity shines as a testament to Gary’s resilience.
As the investigation continues, Thumbs Up Bar stands silent, its doors a somber reminder of a night when words turned to gunfire, and a community lost one of its own. For Robert Gaskin, the streets of Gary were home—until they became the stage for a tragedy that will not soon be forgotten.