Gun Violence

Daughter of Community Activist Andrew Holmes Killed by Gunfire in Indianapolis

The daughter of Chicago community activist Andrew Holmes was shot to death in Indianapolis early Saturday morning.

Tamara Sword, a mother of five, was at a Phillips 66 gas station near Lafayette Square mall at about 2:30 a.m. when gunfire erupted around her, striking her in the chest, Holmes said. More than 45 shell casings were found on the scene.

Indianapolis police they were called to the scene at the gas station in the 3800 block of Lafayette Road for a report of shots fired. When they arrived, they found a large group of people congregated outside the gas station. When they saw the police, many of them fled.

Shell casings were found in the gas station parking lot as well as at a building a few doors down and a nearby Taco Bell parking lot, according to Officer Rafael Diaz.

"From what we can tell there was some type of disturbance that occurred involving a large amount of gunfire," Diaz said.

Police said a man, believed to be an adult, was found underneath a vehicle in the parking lot and pronounced dead on the scene. A woman was found inside the same vehicle with apparent gunshot wounds, Diaz said. She was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police identified the woman in the car as Sword and the man found underneath it as Joshua Riggins.

Holmes is a well-known anti-violence activist in Chicago. He has often served as the spokesperson for families who have lost a member to gun violence.

"I cried all the way here," Holmes said. "That's my daughter. I work in the city with the crime up there, but when it hits home, it hits home."

Sword was a manager at a KFC in Indianapolis, where she lived with her five children, Holmes said.

Holmes is offering a $1,000 award for anyone who has information on the shooting.

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