Tragedy struck in Gary, Indiana, when a stray bullet claimed the life of Kia Tidwell, a 42-year-old mother of six, as she was driving home while talking to her eldest daughter on the phone. The horrifying incident unfolded late Friday as Tidwell drove past a McDonald’s, where gunfire erupted amidst a police response to a disturbance, ABC Chicago reported.
Tidwell, who was heading back to her home in Portage, was on the phone with her daughter, Islynn, when the bullet struck her in the head. In her final moments, Islynn heard her mother’s anguished cry: “Oh, Jesus!”
“I just heard people shooting, and she cried, ‘Oh, Jesus!’” Islynn painfully recalled. “And that’s when I heard her car skirt off, and she crashed into the tree right there, and the phone call ended.”
Tidwell was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving her devastated family to mourn an unimaginable loss. The suspects responsible for the stray gunfire fled the scene and remain at large, as police continue to search for those behind the fatal shooting, via the New York Post.
Kia Tidwell was not just a devoted mother but also a grandmother to a 2-year-old girl. She was known for her unwavering dedication to her family, often volunteering at her children’s schools and sporting events, where she was recognized as the “loudest mom at the boys’ games,” according to a GoFundMe page set up to support her grieving family.
“She always put forth 100% effort helping others, mentoring others, giving when she didn’t have to give,” the fundraiser states. “Kia Tidwell was confident, fearless, selfless, fabulous, loved life, and adored her family.”
Though she had moved from Gary, Tidwell’s love for the city never wavered. “She defended Gary tooth and nail,” said her sister, Isley Tidwell. “In the end, for her to be taken out by all the people she advocated for, it’s sad.”
Her mother, Charlotte Tidwell, vowed to seek justice for her daughter’s senseless death. “We’re going to take it as far as we can. It don’t stop here,” she said, determined to keep fighting until those responsible are held accountable.
Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon called on witnesses to step forward and help bring justice to the Tidwell family. Mayor Eddie Melton echoed this sentiment, stating, “Enough is enough. This is a call to action for the community to figure out what we can do collectively to prevent this from happening again.”
As the family grieves, the community of Gary is left reeling from the loss of a beloved mother who was taken far too soon in a senseless act of violence.