Gary officials urge witnesses to come forward after Portage mother of 6 killed by stray bullet
Isley Tidwell said her sister, Kia, 'defended Gary tooth and nail.'
GARY, Ind. (WLS) -- Gary police said Friday's shooting death of a mother of six took place with officers already on the scene.
They were responding to a call about an altercation that had happened earlier. It was, apparently, a continuation of that altercation that led to the shooting that took Kia Tidwell's life as she drove home Friday night.
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A grieving family is in search of answers that, so far, are not coming.
"She didn't live here anymore, but she defended Gary tooth and nail. In the end, for her to be taken out by all the people she advocated for, it's sad," said Isley Tidwell, the victim's sister.
She didn't live here anymore, but she defended Gary tooth and nail. In the end, for her to be taken out by all the people she advocated for, it's sadIsley Tidwell
It was Friday night when 42-year-old Kia was driving past a McDonald's in Gary on her way home to Portage. A stray bullet took her life as she spoke on the phone with one of her six children.
"My daughter had just left my house. On her way Friday, she stopped by, and she said she was going home to cook for her other children, her youngest, who's not even 5 yet, and her granddaughter who is 2," said Charlotte Tidwell, the victim's mother. "We going to take it further. We're going to take it as far as we can. It don't stop here. We can't allow it to stop here."
Despite what police call a robust investigation, no arrests have been made so far. Tidwell's family joined in with elected officials in a call for justice on Monday.
"There were multiple people who witnessed there that incident, and we are asking the public to respond to this senseless, terrible act," said Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon.
"Enough is enough. This is a call to action for the community to step forth to figure out what can we do collectively as a community so we can prevent this from happening again," said Gary Mayor Eddie Melton. "We stand right with them, with stand by them. This is not just their loss. It's the city of Gary's loss."
Police said they have spent hours canvassing the scene, speaking to witnesses and collecting footage, but what they really need is for the public to come forward.
"We cannot tolerate individuals committing crimes of this nature, and we don't speak up. We know for a fact that several individuals know what happened," said Lake County State's Attorney Bernard Carter.
Officers urged anyone who has any information to call the detective on the case at 219-755-3855. To leave an anonymous tip, call the hotline at 219-207-8477. Funeral arrangements for Kia Tidwell are still pending, and a GoFundMe has been started for her family.
The city of Gary released a statement on the shooting, saying: "We were devastated to learn of the tragic death of Ms. Kia Tidwell, mother of six, who was caught unexpectedly in gunfire near the Grant Street and 5th Avenue in Gary on Friday, September 6th. The Gary Police Department and the Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force have been speaking with the family and witnesses. They are reviewing all tips with the goal of locating the perpetrator(s) of this senseless crime and bringing them to justice.As the family and our community mourn this terrible loss, we are urgently asking the public for their support in bringing forward any information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the people involved in this heinous act. If you have any information, please call Detective Roger Escutia directly at 219-755-3855, send an email to rescutia@isp.in.gov or use the anonymous Text to Tip line (219) 207-TIPS (8477). Any videos can be emailed to garypdrtcc@gary.gov."
