An arrest has been made in the tragic shooting of Kia Tidwell, a beloved mother of six from Gary, Indiana. While this brings a sense of closure to her grieving family, they say nothing can truly make up for the loss of a woman who spent her life working to prevent the kind of violence that ultimately took her away.
Kia’s family stood alongside city officials and police as they shared the news that 20-year-old Tedric Guy Jr. was arrested on Monday. He now faces multiple serious charges, including murder.
“I didn’t think it would happen this soon, but I’m glad the community came together to help,” said Kia’s sister, Charlotta Tidwell Ford. “It’s bittersweet. I’m happy, but at the same time, I’m sad.”
Investigators say it was tips from the public that led them to the suspect.
“Five months ago, we stood here asking people to come forward with information, and I’m here to say—they did,” said Gary Police Chief Derrick Canon.
Kia, who was 42 years old, was on her way home to Portage when a stray bullet hit and killed her. It happened last September near 5th Avenue and Grant Street, right by a McDonald’s.
“She had just left my house. We had just talked, and then we got the call about what happened,” said her father, James Tidwell.
Kia’s family describes her as a fighter for her community. She worked hard to keep young people from turning to violence, only to become a victim of it herself.
“She was always helping, always trying to guide young people so they wouldn’t choose this path,” Charlotta shared.
According to court documents, the suspect was allegedly aiming at a group of people in an orange Dodge Charger in the McDonald’s drive-thru when the shooting happened. Officers were already nearby when the shots were fired.
Investigators connected Tedric Guy Jr. to the crime through various pieces of evidence, including shell casing analysis, search warrants, and even social media activity.
“We used shell case analysis in this case, and multiple warrants were served on locations, vehicles, and other evidence, including social media,” said Chief Canon.
Now, Kia’s family is calling for more police presence in Gary, hoping to continue the work she was so passionate about.
Meanwhile, the suspect is expected to appear in court later this week.
