In the quiet of an autumn evening in East Chicago, Indiana, eight-year-old Timya Andrews was diligently working on her homework in the living room of her family's home. It was shortly after 10 p.m. on October 22, 2020, when the calm was shattered by the sound of rapid gunfire outside. In a tragic and senseless act of violence, one of approximately 15 to 16 bullets fired from an automatic weapon on the street penetrated the siding of her house, striking the young girl in the head. Police do not believe Timya or her family were the intended targets of the shooting.
First responders found Timya lying on the floor, bleeding from her head. She was initially rushed to St. Catherine's Hospital in East Chicago for stabilization before being airlifted to Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago to fight for her life. For six days, she remained in critical condition, but her injuries proved to be too severe. Timya Andrews, a female, died on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. An autopsy subsequently ruled her death a homicide. The family had reportedly moved to the neighborhood from Chicago in an effort to escape gun violence.
In the wake of the devastating loss, law enforcement officials began an intensive investigation into the shooting. A week before Timya was shot, a male relative had also been the victim of a shooting, although authorities have not publicly confirmed if the two incidents are related. Despite the efforts of the East Chicago Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, no suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been made in connection with Timya's death. A substantial reward of $10,000 was offered for any information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for this heinous crime. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward, referring to the perpetrators as 'cowardly thugs.' The community continues to mourn the loss of a young life cut tragically short by a stray bullet.
