More than two months after a drive-by shooting outside an East Point funeral home turned a family wake into a crime scene, the relatives of 55-year-old Ina Chambers say they are still in the dark. Chambers was killed while attending a wake on Jan. 9, and her husband says investigators have not contacted him since January. That silence has deepened the family's grief and prompted fresh calls for the community to come forward with anything that might help.
Family Still Waiting For Answers
Phil Chambers told FOX 5 Atlanta that he has not heard from police since January and that "nobody has called us to say anything," saying the family feels ignored. The station reports there have been no arrests in the case and that its own follow-up requests for updates from East Point police went unanswered.
What Happened
Police say the shooting happened Jan. 9 at the Gus Thornhill Funeral Home near Gus Thornhill Jr. Drive and S. Bayard Street, when people inside a passing vehicle opened fire on those gathered outside for a wake. Investigators found Chambers, 55, suffering from gunshot wounds and pronounced her dead at the scene, while another woman suffered minor injuries, according to WSB-TV.
Funeral Home Pleads For Help
The family that owns Gus Thornhill Funeral Home has publicly urged the community to help identify the gunmen and said staff followed emergency protocols after the attack. WSB-TV quotes co-owner Sherry Thornhill saying, "We are looking for you, and I believe in the city of East Point Police Department that they will hunt you down."
Police Response And Investigation
East Point Police Chief Shawn Buchanan has vowed that investigators will keep working the case and told reporters his team "will not rest until justice is served," a point highlighted in earlier coverage on how officers seek suspects in this senseless act. Detectives say they are reviewing neighborhood security footage and witness accounts as the case remains active.
How To Help
Authorities are asking anyone with video, photos or information to contact East Point Police Communications at (404) 761-2170, as reported by local coverage. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-8477 or by texting "CSGA" to 738477, and WRDW has reported that a reward is available for information that leads to an arrest.
For now, the Chambers family continues to grieve while pressing police for updates, and neighbors say the attack has shaken confidence in spaces once viewed as sacred. Investigators maintain that the case is active and say they welcome any tip, no matter how small.
