Erica Blascom Anderson, 31, was fatally shot in the early hours of October 13, 2025, at a home in the 1600 block of 17th Avenue near Lakebottom Park in Columbus, Georgia. Anderson had recently moved from Indiana to take a lecturer position in the Department of Theatre & Dance at Columbus State University and had just returned from visiting her husband and three children in Indianapolis; her husband was reportedly undergoing cancer treatment.

Authorities say Anderson entered the house she shared with a roommate and was mistaken for an intruder. The roommate, who had allegedly been receiving threats from her son, heard a noise, armed herself with a pistol and fired two shots in the dark; at least one struck Anderson, who died. The Muscogee County Coroner’s Office and Columbus Police Department described the shooting as a tragic accident. The Violent Crimes Unit is continuing to investigate and reports indicated the case would be presented to a grand jury to determine whether charges will be filed; no arrest has been announced and the roommate has not been publicly identified.

Columbus State University issued a statement mourning the loss of the new faculty member who had quickly made a positive impact on her students. If anyone has information about the shooting or the circumstances that led to it, please share what is known.