Trial in Gary revenge killing delayed

Martell Flippins’ upcoming murder trial was delayed Friday after defense lawyer Marc Laterzo said a witness had come forward to corroborate “portions” of his alibi.

The trial — scheduled for Monday — was reset to April 22.

Deputy Prosecutor Keith Anderson said they needed more time to “depose” and “investigate.”

Flippins, 35, of Chicago was charged in April.

The affidavit alleges Flippins’ green SUV was parked for 1 1/2 hours in a bar parking lot, before he drove around to “ambush” and shoot Patterson six times in the middle of Broadway Avenue.

He was walking across Broadway around 3:15 a.m. March 12 to Fatso’s bar — the former Voodoo Lounge — 5060 Broadway, when the SUV driver opened fire. Security footage showed he appeared to “fall down” by the median.

Police found multiple bullet casings from a handgun and rifle, according to court records.

The SUV had its lights off and continued to drive north on Broadway. It had no license plate.

Patterson was a “known suspect” in the March 6 death of Lavell “Big Slab” Hughes, 26, in front of “many witnesses” at Trendsetters Bar in Gary.

Patterson was a “self-admitted” gang member with the 49th Avenue Boys in Gary, the affidavit alleges.

Flippins was Hughes’ “associate,” although court records do not specify their relationship.

“Not one day goes by without me shedding tears ever since I got the call … can’t wait to make (expletive) feel the way I do,” Flippins wrote on Facebook after Hughes’ death.

Police searched through records to find Flippins had a 2018 green Chevrolet Equinox that matched the description of the vehicle used in Patterson’s death.

Investigators went undercover and tailed Flippins from work. They lost him in Lansing, Illinois, but later found the empty vehicle and impounded it. They later found a .40-caliber bullet casing under the windshield wiper.

Flippins’ cellphone pinged in the area at the time of the shooting.

mcolias@post-trib.com