Porter County, IN – A Porter resident faces felony charges after allegedly firing a handgun from a moving vehicle near Indiana State Police troopers early Saturday morning, according to an ISP news release.
The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on October 18, 2025, near the ramp of S.R. 49 and U.S. 20 in the Town of Porter. Troopers Carlson and Brasseur were parked nearby when they reportedly heard three gunshots and saw a muzzle flash coming from the passenger side of an approaching car.
After stopping the blue 2018 Honda, troopers detained both the driver and passenger. The passenger, identified as Gary A. Ottomanelli, 40, of Porter, allegedly admitted to firing an FNX-9 semi-automatic 9mm pistol “just to shoot it,” stating he did not intend to harm anyone. Troopers recovered the loaded handgun from the vehicle.
Police later confirmed that 911 calls from nearby residents reporting shots fired coincided with the time troopers witnessed the gunfire. The driver was released, and Ottomanelli was taken to the Porter County Jail, where he was preliminarily charged with two counts of Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon—one Level 5 Felony and one Level 6 Felony.
Final charges will be determined by the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities emphasize that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
