Andrew Holmes, an anti-violence activist in Chicago, had just responded to a mass shooting that happened at a Halloween party Sunday, Oct. 29, in the windy city when his phone rang with news from Indianapolis.
“My grandson had suffered a gunshot wound. He’s stable, but he’s been to surgery three times. He suffered a GSW to his leg that roughed one of his veins and stopped the flow of his blood that wasn’t circulating in his leg,” said Holmes in a press conference Thursday, Nov. 2.
RELATED: 16-year-old shot and killed, 9 others injured at Halloween party on northeast side
His grandson, 16-year-old Terrell Sword, was one of the victims of the mass shooting at an Indianapolis’ Halloween party Oct. 29.
In Chicago, 15 were shot.
In Indianapolis, ten were shot; one teenage girl died; victims were between the ages of 16-22.
Holmes went from being an activist in Chicago to Indianapolis, brining awareness to incidents there.
He, along with Lisette Guillen, with Case Files Chicago, and Sylvia Galvan, a victim’s advocate for Circle of Love Northwest Indiana, held a press conference Nov. 2.
Calling on people to come forward
“There’s a $1,000 reward for anyone that can give up the name and the person that discharged his weapon on these people here,” said Holmes at the location where the Halloween shooting occurred.
“We need the arrest and conviction with this. In light of that, $1,000 will be added for the murder of the young lady that lost their life here. Third of all, we want to find out if this place was authorized and zoned for having these types of events because the event in Chicago wasn’t zoned.”
He is asking the owners of the unspecified building to come forward with information.
Holmes is not new to shooting incidents affecting his family.
In 2015, his daughter Tamara Sword, who is also Terrell’s mother, was shot and killed in the crossfire of gunshots in Indianapolis.
Now, it feels surreal for his grandson to be affected. The teen is a football player at Lawrence North High School.
“He wanted to go to the NFL, and I’m praying that he can get there. His mother lost her life, and I would always tell him to just keep fighting because it’s her spirit that put you on that field,” said Holmes.
“One thing about his father, he told me he didn’t want him [Terrell] to come here, but it was one of his teammates that invited him. We didn’t want him to venture out, but at the same time, you want him to get out. He’s hurt too because he thinks he made a bad choice and decision.”
Stop the violence
Holmes told his grandson that this incident is not his fault.
It is the person or persons who are responsible for discharging a weapon that are to blame.
“Kids talk. We know kids talk. We know that these kids are going back home and maybe talking on the phone and parents may overhear something. So, if your child knows something, parents, we encourage you to go to the metro police department. We need answers,” said Guillen.
She said there were far too many injuries at the incident, and even for the kids that were in attendance but were not shot, that trauma will stay with them forever.
“Yes, we’re from Chicago. However, what we see is this triangle. We see Chicago, Gary, Indiana, and Indianapolis all share the same type of issue. We have a huge problem. The question is, what are the public officials going to do about it,” said Guillen.
Galvan is from northwest Indiana.
She wants to reach out to the people that were at the incident. She encourages them to reach out to the police.
“Please, don’t think you’re being a snitch for reaching out to authorities. This has to stop. Being a parent myself, I would do the right thing if I had to. I would bring my child in. It’s the right thing to do,” said Galvan.
“Also, to the person who committed this crime, turn yourself in. You took someone’s life. You caused so much harm that night. Please, turn yourself in.”
Holmes said if anybody has any information, they can call 1-800-U-TELL-US (883-5587) and remain anonymous and confidential.
You can also reach IMPD detective Gregory Taylor at 317.327.3475 or Gregory.Taylor2@Indy.gov.
Contact staff writer Jade Jackson at (317) 762-7853 or by email JadeJ@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
