Jury finds Gary man guilty of murder, other felonies in fatal shooting after car wreck

Chicago Tribune

14-05-2025

A Lake County jury found a Gary man guilty Wednesday of all four felonies against him in a case involving a fatal shooting after a car wreck last year.
Billy Cross, 47, was found guilty of felony charges for murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, operating a loaded machine gun and possession of a machine gun. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 10.
Defense lawyer Mark Gruenhagen had accused a man of backtracking on prior testimony – where he said Kylin Bursey had guns in his vehicle and a gun on his waistband before Cross opened fire.
Authorities allege his wife Angelia Cross hit Bursey's vehicle on April 30, 2024, near 4th Avenue and Adams Street. Bursey, 33, of Gary, was in the vehicle with his girlfriend, plus five children. He and Angelia traded words. Later, she called Billy Cross where he fatally shot Bursey on the 4100 block of W. 23rd Avenue.
Bursey was shot at least six times in the head, neck and back, records show. He was transported to Methodist Northlake in Gary where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy Prosecutors Brad Carter and Bernie Johnsen said the Crosses tracked Bursey's vehicle down; Bursey was unarmed before Billy Cross gunned him down. The shooting was captured on a home doorbell camera.
Gruenhagen argued Cross feared for his life and shot preemptively in self-defense.
On cross-examination, Gruenhagen quoted the witness' past testimony in earlier hearings.
Did you forget? Are you lying, Gruenhagen asked him.
No, the man responded. He feared leaving his home.
'I'm dealing with a (court case) myself, (plus) a situation that has nothing to do with me,' he told Gruenhagen.
The Post-Tribune is withholding the man's name for his safety.
The man ultimately said he saw Bursey had a weapon earlier that day at a gas station and was 'known to carry guns.'
A detective responded at 5:45 p.m. where police found a red Chevrolet Tahoe with two bullet holes, parked in front of a house. Fourteen bullet casings and blood were on the street. No guns were recovered.
Security footage showed Bursey standing near the back of his red Chevrolet Tahoe on West 23rd Avenue with four people — three men and a woman. A red vehicle pulls and parks, and then a dark GMC Envoy parks behind it. Cross and a woman in a pink tank top get out.
'Right here, with the hat,' Cross' wife appears to say, pointing at Bursey.
'Who said they were going to beat my wife,' Cross demands.
Bursey appeared to walk away.
'Don't move, don't move,' Cross says.
Cross appears to raise his arm and fire at Bursey, who fell down.
The detective alleged Cross' handgun was likely modified with a switch to fire 15 bullets in one second.
The crash was caught on camera around 3:39 p.m. near 4th and Connecticut St. where Cross' wife — in the GMC — hit Bursey's vehicle, documents state. He got out to get her insurance information and license plate number. They ended up arguing about who caused the accident.
'He's going to hit me…hurry up and get here,' witnesses said Cross' wife yelled.
Bursey, with a man and woman in his car, moved to a bus lot, then to the 4100 block of W. 23rd Avenue. Cross' wife was 'going to call her people,' one witness told police.
Angelia Cross was charged with a murder case in October. Her bail hearing is scheduled next month.