ANDERSON, IN – A woman from Anderson has been arrested after authorities say she fatally shot her teenage daughter in their home during the early morning hours, mistaking her for an intruder.

Tia Holmes, 38, is being held at the Madison County Jail on preliminary charges of reckless homicide and two counts of neglect of a dependent, including one resulting in serious injury. The charges stem from the December 28 incident that left her 17-year-old daughter, Tianna Harris, dead.

Authorities were called to a residence on West 38th Street around 4 a.m., where they discovered Harris with a fatal gunshot wound. According to police statements and court documents, Holmes had been unsettled by the belief that her ex-husband might attempt to enter the home without permission. Family members told investigators that Holmes’s fear of her ex-husband had become a persistent source of anxiety.

Statements from inside the home provide a glimpse into the atmosphere leading up to the shooting. A sibling of the victim told investigators that Holmes would often patrol the house at night, expressing fears of shadows or burglars. They described a pattern in which Holmes would arm herself and search for signs of an intruder, suggesting that the environment had grown tense in recent weeks.

Another individual in the home reported waking up to Holmes’s panicked words shortly after the sound of a gunshot rang out. According to investigators, Holmes allegedly exclaimed that she believed someone was breaking in and only realized after firing that she had struck her daughter.

The investigation revealed that on the night of the shooting, Holmes reportedly fell asleep in the living room. She told police she awoke to a noise coming from another part of the house and, believing someone was there, retrieved a handgun stored under a mattress. She conducted what she described as a sweep of the house, and upon seeing a shadowy figure, discharged her weapon.

It wasn’t until she heard a noise from Harris, police said, that Holmes turned on the lights and discovered her daughter had been shot. Law enforcement noted that Holmes had a protective order against her ex-husband, a detail that family members said contributed to her ongoing fear for her safety and that of her children.

Family members recounted that Holmes frequently expressed concern about unauthorized access to the home. These concerns reportedly escalated, leading her to carry out repeated checks and investigations after dark, often while armed.

Holmes now faces a $250,000 bond as the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office reviews the case. While formal charges are still pending, the circumstances surrounding the shooting have left the community shaken.

The investigation remains active as authorities continue to gather details about the events leading up to the fatal shooting. No additional arrests have been made, and officials have not released further information regarding possible court appearances.