In a tragic incident that has left a community in shock, an Indiana woman has been arrested after allegedly shooting and killing her teenage daughter. The incident unfolded on a dark night, leaving many questions and heartbreak in its wake.

Tia Holmes, 38, is now facing serious charges, including reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent, following the death of her 17-year-old daughter, Tianna Harris. The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed these charges as the investigation continues to unfold.

The events transpired on December 28, 2025, at a home on West 38th Street in Anderson, a city located approximately 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. It was in the early morning hours when the fateful incident occurred, raising alarm and sorrow throughout the community.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Holmes was reportedly worried about her ex-husband potentially entering the family home without consent. This concern allegedly contributed to the tragic turn of events that night, as reported by Fox affiliate WXIN, an Indianapolis-based news outlet.

While the incident has left many grappling for answers, Holmes’ family has indicated that fear for safety was a persistent issue. This broader context adds complexity to the heartbreaking case, as the community seeks to understand the circumstances that led to such a devastating loss.

Holmes often walks around the house saying she “claims to see shadows or someone there,” one witness, identified as the victim’s sibling, told investigators, according to the charging document. The sibling added that Holmes frequently grabs her weapon while saying she needs to “go investigate.”

The sibling recast the defendant’s alleged state of mind in much less favorable terms, allegedly saying Holmes killed their sister “because she doesn’t know how to sit down and chill.”

Another witness in the house that night said they remembered Holmes walking around and seemingly looking for someone as she allegedly said: “I feel like he’s here, I feel like somebody is here.”

The second witness said they responded by telling Holmes no one was inside the house and to calm down, police said. Then, the second witness went to sleep and woke to a telltale bang.

After the fatal din roused them awake, the second witness went to investigate and found Tianna suffering from a gunshot wound, according to law enforcement. Around the same time of the discovery, the defendant allegedly responded in telling fashion.

“Oh my god, I didn’t know it was her; I thought he was trying to get in here,” Holmes allegedly said.

The second witness clarified that, on the night of the shooting, the defendant was referencing her ex-husband and would regularly look around the residence to make sure he was not there, police said. Those worries were undergirded by the defendant having a protective order against her husband, the second witness allegedly said.

Investigators later interviewed Holmes, who allegedly said she fell asleep in the living room that night but awoke to a noise in the back. Then, she grabbed a handgun that she keeps under a mattress to perform a full “sweep” of the home, according to the affidavit.

Upon seeing what she described as a shadow, the defendant opened fire, police said. Holmes allegedly said she heard a “grunting noise,” turned on the light, and only then realized she had shot her daughter.

The defendant is currently being detained in the Madison County Jail on $250,000 bond on the preliminary charges. Formal charges have yet to be filed by the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office as of this writing.