Mother of 6 killed in crossfire while driving in Gary, Indiana
GARY, Ind (CBS) — A woman died after she was caught in the crossfire of a shooting outside a McDonald's in Gary, Indiana, on Friday evening, police said.
According to the mayor's office, the victim, Kia Tidwell, 42, was a mother of six.
Police say just after 8 p.m., officers responded to the McDonald's at 1527 W. 5th Ave., where they were told there had been a disturbance inside. However, the people causing the disturbance had walked out.
While at the McDonald's, officers heard another loud disturbance on Lincoln Street. Officers tried to approach a large group of people, but shots were fired from behind the apartment building. Officers were pinned down at their location, and several shots rang out.
Officers then saw a red vehicle, which was not involved in the shooting, heading eastbound on 5th Avenue, passing the McDonald's. Then, the driver, Tidwell, was shot. She then crashed her vehicle into a tree, officials say.
The Gary Fire Department was also requested to be on the scene, but when they arrived, Tidwell had already died of her injuries. Officials said she was shot in the head.
Tidwell's family said she was heading home to cook for her kids in Portage after visiting her mother in Gary. They said Tidwell was on the phone with her oldest daughter.
"And the last word she heard her mama say, she was calling on the name of Jesus," said Charlotte Tidwell, Kia Tidwell's mother.
Charlotte Tidwell described how she went to the scene, found her daughter's car and went to try to open the door. One of the officers at the scene told her it was a crime scene.
"I'm thinking, an accident can't be a crime scene," Charlotte said.
The family hopes to ensure their loved one's death wasn't in vain. They said their biggest struggle was how to tell Kia's 4-year-old daughter about her mother's death.
"I'm sad that it was my sister, but if this is what it takes to turn this around, so be it," said VasTi Tidwell-Feagin, Kia's sister.
Anyone with information is asked to 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).
