Slain mother won't see her daughter turn 2
Takara Coleman would have turned 24 in August. But instead of organizing her own party, she was planning her daughter's 2nd birthday — which would have come four months later.
Now the birthday planning is left to the family members Coleman left behind.
Coleman was killed last week in her Indianapolis home while her 1-year-old daughter Kamryn slept. Kamryn's father, 25-year-old Cameron Baker, and an upstairs neighbor, 52-year-old Lisa Woods, also were killed.
When police arrived at 7 a.m. on July 22, they found all three victims shot. Baker was found in the bedroom where the toddler slept. No arrests have been made.
Coleman had been living with her grandmother, said Saretha Ridley, Coleman's mother. She moved into the Admar Court apartment just over a month ago.
Coleman will be remembered for her devotion as a mother and her drive to succeed, Ridley said.
"(Takara) was just a sweet girl, and she wouldn't harm anybody," Ridley said. "She was just trying to do the best she could to be a good mother."
Coleman was going to school at Ivy Tech Community College and working at OneAmerica, Ridley said. She adored her three younger siblings, ages 7 to 14, and they looked up to her in return.
"She just wanted to be successful in life," Ridley said. "She wanted to be sure that her baby was financially taken care of."
Ridley started a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs. As of Thursday afternoon, the fundraising page had raised nearly $1,000 toward the $4,000 goal.
Ridley hopes to hold Coleman's funeral on Aug. 6.
Call IndyStar reporter Sara Salinas at (317) 444-6157. Follow her on Twitter: @saracsalinas.