Officers found the teen wounded around 5 a.m. Sunday on West 38th Street; she later died at a hospital, police said.
ANDERSON, Ind. — A 17-year-old girl died after her mother shot her inside an Anderson home early Sunday, police said, adding that the mother was detained at the scene as investigators gathered statements from people who were inside the house at the time.
Authorities said officers were called to a home in the 2600 block of West 38th Street, near Raible Avenue, around 5 a.m. Sunday. The girl had a gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Anderson Police Department said detectives interviewed those who were present, collected evidence inside the home and recovered a firearm. The mother remained in custody while detectives prepared a case file for review by the Madison County prosecutor. Police did not immediately announce formal charges or release the mother’s name pending that review.
Investigators said others inside the home reported waking to the sound of a gunshot and told officers they had not heard an argument or disturbance in the minutes before the shooting. Detectives canvassed the block Sunday morning and into the afternoon, looking for exterior cameras and potential witnesses who might clarify the sequence of events. “We are working to establish a full timeline,” an Anderson Police Department spokesperson said, noting that no officers were previously called to the address overnight and that the first 911 call reported a person shot. The victim’s relatives were notified by mid-morning, and victim advocates were assigned to the family, police said.
The Madison County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the official cause and manner of death. Police identified the teen Monday as Tianna Harris, 17. Officers said the handgun believed to be used in the shooting was recovered in the home and will be examined by the state crime lab. Detectives were also seeking digital records from phones recovered at the scene to see whether any messages, calls or recordings document what led up to the gunfire. As of Monday afternoon, police described the investigation as active and said additional updates would be released after prosecutors reviewed the case.
Neighbors described the area near West 38th Street and Raible Avenue as typically quiet, with most early-morning traffic tied to third-shift workers commuting on nearby arterials. Several residents said they were startled awake by sirens and saw police blocking the street around dawn. One neighbor said she had seen teenagers and adults coming and going from the address in recent weeks but had never called police. Officers placed evidence markers inside the home and photographed the front walk, while crime-scene tape restricted access to the property through late morning.
Police said they would present their findings to the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office, which will determine what charges, if any, are filed. If charges are brought, the mother would make an initial court appearance within 48 hours of booking, where a judge could set bond and schedule a preliminary hearing. Detectives said they would continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing forensic results this week, including ballistics, gunshot-residue tests and the 911 audio. The department said it plans to release any major updates after the coroner’s autopsy and prosecutorial review are complete.
On Monday afternoon, a small memorial of candles and flowers grew near the front steps as relatives visited the home. A family friend said the teen was a high school student who loved music and helped younger cousins with homework. “This is a terrible loss,” the friend said. Another neighbor said the family had lived at the address for less than a year but kept to themselves. Police reiterated that there was no wider threat to the public and emphasized that the shooting was contained to the home.
The investigation remained open late Monday, with police awaiting the coroner’s autopsy and the prosecutor’s charging decision. Officials said the next update could come after lab results return later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 29, 2025.