Local

Family seeks answers 1 year after woman was shot, killed while in town for funeral

GASTONIA, N.C. — One year ago, a Gaston County murder made national headlines when a woman was shot and killed the same day as a family member’s funeral.

Jacobia Lane was visiting Gastonia last October for her sister-in-law’s funeral. Lane, along with 30 other people, were at her brother’s house on Nottingham Drive when someone fired more than a dozen bullets into the home. According to authorities, the shots came from a high-powered rifle.

Lane was killed, and one other person was grazed by a bullet.

One year later, Lane’s brother, Timothy English, spoke with Channel 9 about the heartache his family is going through with the murder still unsolved.

“She was just a loving person that loved to help people,” English said.

Police officials told Channel 9 that there’s no update on the case and no indication as to why English’s home was targeted.

“Why would you just shoot at people for no reason at all?” English said.

English said the children who were in the home that night are still haunted by what they saw, and by the lack of justice to date.

“There’s a killer out there and nothing’s been done about it,” English said.

He said he forgives whoever committed the crime, but hopes that someone comes forward to help solve his sister’s murder.

“If you're the killer and you're watching this, we would never hate you, but you have to pay for what you've done,” English said. “You can't get away with this.”

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