‘Heart was bigger than her': Family mourning tragic loss of mother shot, killed at Hammond bar
HAMMOND, Ind. — Family is devastated after a 59-year-old woman, who was known for being so caring, was gunned down at a Hammond bar on Sunday during an alleged rampage.
Lorraine Reyna was a hard worker and enjoyed spending time with friends at Portside Pub as a regular.
On Sunday morning at around 7 a.m., Lulu Adams, her younger sister, received a call nobody would ever want — that her sister was dead.
'To get that call was very very heartbreaking,' Adams said. 'Me and my sister were close, to get that call after someone was angry because you lost money at a casino — to get that call, it was devastating.'
A few hours earlier at 4 a.m., Hammond police responded to Portside Pub, located in 1500 block of Indianapolis Boulevard.
Court documents outline an alleged rampage by Caprice Cashaw, 31, of Merrillville. He admitted to police that he lost at least $7,000 at Horseshoe Casino just before the shooting.
Cashaw then allegedly starting beating his girlfriend as they were driving and stopped at random in front of the bar.
Inside, Reyna, the mother of three and grandmother of five known for her cooking, was sitting at the bar. Paul Olivares, who she was friends with, was bartending with two other patrons at the bar.
'Get inside': Slain bartender tried to save woman in Hammond shooting; suspect lost thousands at casino prior
Police allege Cashaw was beating his girlfriend outside of the bar for approximately six minutes after blaming her for the gambling losses.
Reyna and Olivares went to investigate and walked up to the vehicle after noticing the alleged beating. Moments later, rounds rang out and five people in total were shot — Reyna, Olivares, Cashaw's girlfriend and the two patrons.
Reyna and Olivares, who were trying to save the girlfriend, lost their lives.
'It doesn't surprise me at all because she was always making sure you were okay. We got very close after the death of my son,' Adams said. 'She was always making sure I was okay. She helped others, she helped people in different situations.'
Around the Hammond community, she was known for her love of cooking, feeding everyone and always had big barbeques with friends and family over.
'Her staples were empanadas, Puerto Rican rice and potato salad,' Adams said.
The 59-year-old was born and raised on the Southeast Side of Chicago and went to St. Francis de Sales High School.
'Our prayers and love to the family, friends and loved ones of former De Sales student Lorraine Reyna, who tragically lost her life this past weekend in an act of senseless gun violence. We grieve for all those in our community and beyond, who are similarly victims of such needless and devastating violence,' the school posted on social media.
Adams told WGN News the family is beyond devastated but were touched by the outpouring of community support. A large balloon release and vigil was held in honor of Reyna and Olivares.
'When you had her in your corner, she was in your corner. Her heart was bigger than her,' Adams said. 'To see how many people loved her — the outpouring is amazing.'
Hammond mayor Thomas McDermott blasted the Lake County judicial system after the shooting. According to the mayor, the shooting was a 'preventable one.'
McDermott said Cashaw was arrested in 2022 after allegedly attempting to run over an Indiana gaming commission agent at an East Chicago casino and the case has been continued ten times without resolution.
'Cashaw should have been sitting in jail last night, for the attempted murder of that gaming agent, instead of killing people in a Hammond bar,' he wrote. 'We can keep arresting these guys, but then the Justice system fails us, endangering us all.'
Court records indicate there is not a resolution yet after his case was opened on Oct. 25, 2022.
Family said they will be attending court hearings of Cashaw as they hope Reyna's and Olivares' loss will provide a change.
His next court hearing is scheduled for April 9 and he is being held without bail.
A GoFundMe has raised nearly $14,500 at this time.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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