Reward, ‘peace march’ for murdered Gary man
by Lori Caldwell lcaldwell@post-trib.com | 648-3258 November 1, 2012 4:34PM
Jerry Hood Jr. | Provided Photo~Sun-Times Media ptmet
Updated: December 3, 2012 6:41AM
GARY — When his widowed mother fell ill, Jerry Hood Jr. returned to Gary to care for her in his childhood home.
After she died in 2003, the 48-year-old Horace Mann High School graduate decided not to return to Minneapolis.
“He was bound to the house. He wanted to keep it in the family,” his niece, Tracey Taylor-Scott said.
The uncle who enjoyed being surrounded by loved ones, who organized barbecues and who always had time to baby-sit, was killed at his family home Oct. 23 when he confronted burglars there.
Police have solid leads on the suspects, Sgt. Larry Robertson said. “There are multiple people involved in this,” he said.
Taylor-Scott and other family members decided to offer a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Hood’s killers. The amount is undetermined.
“We’re just looking to the community to help stop the violence,” Robertson said.
Police Chief Wade Ingram will lead a peace march at 10 a.m. Saturday, beginning at Hood’s home and walking to Westbrook apartments. The public is invited to join in the “justice for Jerry” march, Ingram’s executive assistant, Antiqua Austin, said.
Taylor-Scott, a Gary native who lives in Minneapolis, said she depended on her uncle’s help when he was living near her.
“He was the medium to get the family together. He always had a joke for you,” she recalled.
The loss of her uncle was compounded my memories of another uncle — Hood’s brother, Anthony Hood, who was shot and killed more than 19 years ago after agreeing to give a stranger a ride.
“Our family hasn’t ever recovered,” Taylor-Scott said.
Anyone with information about Hood’s death at his home, at 2211 W. 8th Ave., may call Robertson at 881-7545 or the department’s anonymous tip line at 1 (866) 274-6347.
