Mary Felton, 74, was found shot to death in the driver’s seat of her white SUV at 8th Avenue and Lincoln Street in Gary, Indiana, on December 8, 2021. Earlier that day she had reported a sexual assault to the Gary Police Department, said she feared for her safety, and mentioned having a restraining order against the man involved. Two officers escorted her to her vehicle after meeting with detectives.

A suspect was taken into custody the day after the shooting. Charging documents say Felton identified the man, Earl Shearer Sr., age 66, as her assailant in the sexual assault she reported. Surveillance footage reportedly showed a man matching Shearer’s description entering the rear of Felton’s vehicle in the police parking lot and later leaving in a different car; a K9 unit’s trail reportedly led back to the same lot.

Felton was a longtime community leader who served on the Gary Library Board and the Gary Community School Corp. Board, held positions in multiple municipal administrations, and owned an accounting firm. If anyone knew Mary or saw activity near the police parking lot or 8th Avenue and Lincoln Street on December 8, what can be shared with investigators?