Police say multiple suspects opened fire as four families gathered for wakes at Gus Thornhill Funeral Home.
EAST POINT, Ga. — A woman was killed and another injured Friday evening when shots fired from a passing vehicle struck people near the entrance of Gus Thornhill Funeral Home at Gus Thornhill Jr. Drive and South Bayard Street, according to East Point police. Officers and medics responded within minutes, but the woman died at the scene.
Police identified the woman through family as Ina Chambers, 55. Investigators say several people in a vehicle discharged weapons toward the property while four families were holding viewings. The attack drew a swift response from city leaders, who condemned the violence and promised a full investigation. Detectives are gathering video, interviewing witnesses and reviewing earlier gunfire reported on the same block. No arrests have been announced, and officials emphasized that the suspects remain at large as the case enters the critical early stage.
The shooting began outside the main entrance just as mourners were arriving and leaving around nightfall Friday. Police said Chambers had stopped to drop off her daughter for a family member’s viewing. A second woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated by medical personnel on site. Crime scene tape sealed off South Bayard Street while investigators mapped bullet trajectories and collected shell casings. “Since I’ve been policing, I’ve never seen such cowardly acts of violence,” Police Chief Shawn Buchanan said during a Saturday news briefing, adding that officers would “not rest until justice is served.” Witnesses described a burst of shots from the street, followed by screams as people rushed for cover between the foyer and the parking lot.
Officials said preliminary evidence points to multiple suspects firing from a passing vehicle. Detectives are pursuing security footage, including doorbell and business cameras along the block. The Fulton County Medical Examiner pronounced Chambers dead at the scene. Police noted that four separate wakes were underway when the gunfire started; however, investigators have not said whether a particular family or person was targeted. The incident came hours after an unrelated shooting report on the same block earlier in the day, which detectives are reviewing alongside Friday night’s attack. Mayor Keisha Chapman asked residents to share any videos or tips that might help identify the shooters.
Gus Thornhill Funeral Home sits in a busy corridor near downtown East Point, a city south of Atlanta with a mix of homes and small businesses. The funeral home, a longtime gathering place for families in metro Atlanta, often host multiple services at once, drawing large crowds into the evening. Friends said Chambers had deep roots in South Atlanta schools and neighborhood groups, describing her as a reliable organizer who showed up for others’ milestones. Residents who live near South Bayard Street told reporters they rarely see violence spill into the block and called the shooting shocking given the solemn setting.
Police have not released a vehicle description, caliber information or the number of shots fired. Detectives plan to examine ballistic evidence and canvass nearby streets for more cameras. Officials said updates will follow as investigators process tips and videos. No charges had been filed as of Monday, and police did not announce any persons of interest. The department plans additional patrols around memorial services this week and said it will brief the City Council on security needs once the initial evidence review is complete.
Outside Gus Thornhill on Saturday, bouquets leaned on a brick column and a small crowd prayed. “She was the glue that held them together,” former council member Joshua Butler IV said after speaking with Chambers’ relatives. A family friend, Ken Lott, called Chambers a “pillar of the community” and said the violence “stole peace from families who were already grieving.” Neighbors recounted helping elders into cars as officers moved them behind the tape. Mourners hugged on the sidewalk and swapped phone numbers for rides home as investigators worked into the night.
As of Monday morning, police said the investigation remains active, with evidence technicians cataloging shell casings and detectives reviewing new video. The next formal update is expected after additional witness interviews are completed this week.
Author note: Last updated January 12, 2026.