Police and family confirm that Hood sent his co-worker to check on one door of the home and he went in through another entrance.
"We do have surveillance cameras in the area and the investigators are reviewing that camera," said Chief Wade Ingram Sr., Gary Police.
Hood would have turned 47 in November and was planning on getting married on Valentine's Day. His family says that Hood was loved by everyone and was raising his 16-year-old daughter whose mother is dead as a single parent.
"Never thought we would get a call like this about Jerry," said La Shawn Daniels, niece. "He was a family man, family first, there for everyone … This was not supposed to happen."
"It is the hardest thing ever, who would ever think this would happen," said Toya Walton, niece.
"We do not know what to do, of everybody in our family who would think our uncle would get murdered," said Tawana Walton, niece.
"He was a friendly person loved by everyone," said Phyllis Taylor, neighbor.
Police are asking the public to come forward with any information they may have about the murder.
