EAST POINT, Ga. — The family that owns the funeral home where a grandmother was killed last week is asking the public to help police find the gunmen.
Ina Chambers, 55, was killed during a drive-by Friday night at Gus Thornhill Funeral Home in East Point.
Channel 2’s Tom Jones was at the funeral home on Monday when detectives stopped by as they investigated this case.
The owners of the funeral home say nothing like this has happened here before.
They said all their employees were inside when this happened and followed protocols during the emergency.
Co-owner Sherry Thornhill said her heart goes out to the victim’s family, and the funeral home wants the shooters caught as soon as possible.
She wanted to share this message: “We are looking for you, and I believe in the city of East Point Police Department that they will hunt you down.”
Thornhill told Jones that her late father, one of the first Black police officers hired by East Point police, would be livid that something like this happened at his funeral home.
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“If he was alive today, he would spend countless hours working with the police department to try to figure this out,” Thornhill said.
Police said Chambers was standing near the front door of the funeral home when a car with several people inside began firing.
Chambers was hit. Another person suffered minor injuries.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Cornelius Tinch told Jones outside the funeral home on Monday.
He called Thornhill Funeral Home a sacred place in the community.
“They buried my brother, my grandma, my auntie, a lot of my family,” Tinch said.
He plans to create a banner with Chambers’ picture and wants the funeral home to give it to the family when she is laid to rest.
Thornhill said her father grew up in this community. He owned the funeral home while working as an officer.
If people couldn’t pay for a funeral, “He gave it to them,” Thornhill said.
Now, Thornhill said it’s a shame someone with no regard for the sanctity of life would end a life there.
She’s happy the police are working overtime to find the killers. She’s even asking her late dad for help.
“I pray to my dad and say, ‘Can you help them. Even in heaven, can you help them?’” Thornhill said.
Thornhill said many of the officers are stopping by, saying they want to solve this case in her father’s memory.
She is asking the public to contact East Point police if they have any information about this crime.
The funeral home also released a statement about the incident, saying:
“Gus Thornhill Funeral Home is heartbroken by the tragic act of violence that occurred on Friday evening, January 9, 2026, in an isolated incident on our premises. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life, as well as to all who were affected by this devastating event.
“At Gus Thornhill Funeral Home, our mission is to serve families during their most vulnerable moments with dignity, care, and respect. That a place meant for remembrance, reflection, and comfort was violated by violence is beyond anything we ever imagined. We grieve deeply alongside the family and our community.
“Our on-site staff responded immediately by contacting emergency medical personnel with the City of East Point. The East Point Police and Fire Departments arrived promptly, secured the area, and rendered aid to those affected. We have full faith and trust in law enforcement and are fully cooperating with their ongoing investigation as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident. The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our highest priority.
“The family has been notified, and our thoughts and prayers are with them, as well as with all attendees and members of the community who are suffering during this incredibly difficult time.
“We respectfully request that the media honor the family’s privacy during this period of mourning.
“Violence has no place in our community or in moments of grief. We stand together in sorrow, in support of those affected, and in hope for healing and peace.
“As always, the Gus Thornhill family and staff remain committed to serving our community with the compassion, professionalism, and care for which we are known.”