Chicago activist thanks IMPD detectives after arrest in daughter’s murder

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Andrew Holmes fought back tears as he stood near pump five at a Phillips 66 on the 3800 block of Lafayette Road. On August 2015, Holmes would lose his first born in a deadly shooting.

Tamara Sword, an innocent bystander, got caught in cross fire at the city’s west side gas station and died. Time passed and police made no arrest, and it appeared that investigators had few leads in the investigation.

But on Wednesday, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department got a major break in the case and arrested Michael Edwards and Kenneth Jones on warrants of murder and attempted murder.

“I’m a little excited there will be some accountability held for her senseless murder,” Holmes said.

According to police, Edwards and Jones, who are friends, were frustrated after a local rapper rejected a handshake. Investigators say since that encounter violence escalated between the two friends and a rival group.

It all came to an end when witnesses told investigators Jones pulled the trigger while Edwards stood nearby.

On that night, police say Joshua Riggins died after being hit by a car as he tried to get away from the gunshots. Prosecutors have not filed charges in Riggins’ case.

Despite police arresting two suspects in his daughter’s murder, Holmes decided to focus on the cases that haven’t been solved around the country.

“I can’t get happy when other people are still looking for their cases to be solved,” he explained.

On Thursday, Holmes traveled 164 miles from Chicago to Indy to thank IMPD detectives for making an arrest.