Police continue investigation into employment agency shooting
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Updated: 6:57 PM Dec 10, 2010
Police continue investigation into employment agency shooting
South Bend
One woman was shot and another was hurt by debris Wednesday night after someone fired a gun through a business window in South Bend.
Posted: 6:09 PM Dec 10, 2010
Reporter: Nick McGurk, Alana Greenfogel, Stephanie Stang
Email Address: nick.mcgurk@wndu.com, Alana.Greenfogel@wndu.com, stephanie.stang@wndu.com
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A woman is holding on for her life after getting shot in the head through her office window. Police are still looking for the shooter.

Teresa Blake was inside Specialized Staffing Solutions in the 1000-block of East Jefferson Boulevard in South Bend, when someone outside fired a gun through the window at about 6:30 Wednesday night. Glass shattered and hit another worker, Nikki Howard, but she was treated and released from the hospital.

Specialized Staffing Solutions Founder and CEO Jacqueline Barton says, "We are deeply saddened by these tragic events. We would ask that you keep Teresa and her family, as well as our staff, in your thoughts and prayers. As you can imagine, this is a traumatic and difficult time."

The company’s press release goes on to say other employees are still working in various businesses throughout the community. Also, it says, “In light of the criminal investigation, company officials noted that they could not speculate or discuss the case further.”

Metro-Homicide Commander Tim Corbett says he is not going to speculate if Blake or the company were targeted, or if this was a random crime, until he’s absolutely sure.

"Oh, more than anything I hope it was not random,” says Sherry Cummings, who works down the street at Ameriprise Financial. “I feel really sorry for the lady that this happened to but if it was a personal thing then it makes it less threatening to other people."

"As a community we need to find something we can do to help each other,” says Cliff Daly, who also works nearby at Ameriprise Financial. “It's extraordinarily threatening."

Friday the business was still closed for the second day and grief counselors were brought in to talk with the staff.

Meanwhile other businesses in the area say the shooting served as a reminder of security policies already in place.

“There's a great deal of concern on a couple of levels,” says People Link C.O.O. Jay Mattern. “Number one for our own concern, also for individuals involved in this.”

According to a release from the company the blinds were closed the night of the shooting, implying the shooter couldn't have seen who was inside the night of the shooting.



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