(Michigan City, IN) - A man arrested for a fatal shooting outside a bar and grill near Michigan City’s lakefront has been granted a speedy trial.

 

Cevin Crawford, 27, of Michigan City is scheduled to stand trial for murder beginning October 14.

 

He exercised the right of offenders to a fast and speedy trial by requesting it during his initial hearing on August 7 in La Porte Superior Court 1.

 

Crawford is accused in the fatal shooting of Dante Sellers, 25, outside Matey’s Restaurant on August 3 at 110 Franklin St.

 

According to court documents, the two men were kicked out of the establishment for exchanging heated words before closing time.

 

About 10 to 15 minutes later, police said employees and patrons on the rooftop bar witnessed Sellers getting shot across the street by a man later identified as Crawford.

 

Sellers of La Porte passed away at a Chicago area hospital later in the day from a gunshot wound to the chest.

 

Police said cellphone video shows Crawford and Sellers were beside separate vehicles when gunshots started ringing out.  The video also shows Crawford had moved closer to Sellers when he shot him, police said.

 

The fatal shooting happened within a month after a 20 year old man died from a gunshot wound during a large gathering outside the BP gas station on E. Michigan Boulevard and bullets several days later struck the police department.

 

In response, Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch said solutions to the gun violence are being sought from law enforcement, clergy, educators, business owners and youth advocates.

 

She also said such acts of violence have become a nationwide problem with arguments once settled with fists being addressed with gunfire.

 

“Right now, it feels like everybody just pulls out their gun and shoots.  That’s the part that’s difficult,” she said.