11182015 - News Article - Portage woman found with gunshot wounds dies

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Portage woman found with gunshot wounds dies

Post-Tribune

November 18, 2015 - 3:23PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-portage-homicide-st-1118-20151118-story.html

Tiara T. Thomas, 30, of the 5900 block of Old Porter Road, died at 8:21 a.m. at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary of gunshot wounds, according to a news release.

Portage police are investigating the Wednesday morning shooting death of a woman who lived in the Park Place apartments.

Tiara T. Thomas, 30, of the 5900 block of Old Porter Road, died at 8:21 a.m. at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary of gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the Lake County Coroner's Office. Her death has been declared a homicide.

"It's an isolated incident," said Portage Police Chief Troy Williams, adding officers began canvassing the area and developed several leads they are pursuing. He added the general public should not be worried.

Williams said Thomas' fiancé, who is not being named, arrived home from work and found Thomas bleeding from the head and chest in their bedroom and called police around 7:28 a.m.

Thomas was transported to Methodist where she later died.

On Wednesday afternoon, Portage police remained in the hallway in front of Thomas' ground floor apartment. They declined to comment on the shooting.

Danny Allen, who lives in the Park Place apartment across from Thomas', said he was awakened about 8 a.m. by police pounding on his door. "The cops asked if I heard anything and there was a guy crying. He was having a fit."

Allen told police he didn't hear gunshots or any other commotion.

He said Thomas had lived in the complex for about 1 1/2 years.

He described Thomas a quiet neighbor with children.

"She got the kids out at 7:30 a.m. and she was usually in and out at night."

He said one of Thomas's children attended Willowcreek Middle School in Portage.

Lately, however, Allen said there were a lot of people coming and going from the apartment. He said police were never called and he wasn't aware of any trouble.

"I didn't know her well. I just saw her as she came and went," Allen said. "She was quiet."

Williams expected to release more information about the case Thursday.