(Michigan City, IN) - An arrest has been made for the shooting at a crowded Michigan City beach over the weekend.

 

20-year-old DeMarco Nichols made his initial appearance Thursday in LaPorte Superior Court 1 on a charge of Level 3 Felony Aggravated Battery. He allegedly shot Rashaan Jeanes in the chest and arm Sunday afternoon.

 

According to court documents, Jeanes was conscious but had difficulty breathing when taken from the beach at Washington Park to the hospital in critical condition.

 

The suspect and victim are both from Michigan City.

 

According to court documents, two groups of people who don’t like each other began exchanging heated words resulting in physical contact at the Stop 2 beach.

 

Court documents also revealed a video of the incident showing Nichols during the altercation raising his right arm and pointing it at a male subject just before the first of five shots were fired. The beach was crowded, and people began running in all directions in response to the gunshots. 

 

There was no mention of Nichols actually holding a gun in a police report about the chain of events captured in the video. Police said Nichols showed up at the police station several hours later and admitted to being the shooter.

 

According to court documents, Nichols told investigators Jeanes began cursing at him and making threatening remarks. Nichols allegedly shoved Jeanes away, then Jeanes punched him, and that’s when he grabbed a gun from the pocket of his shorts and shot him.

 

Nichols could face anywhere from a three to 16-year sentence. He was held in the LaPorte County Jail on a $25,000 bond.