Search continues for man accused of killing girlfriend's mother

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Families still on edge. The search continues for the man accused of killing his grandchildren's grandmother inside of a South Bend apartment. 

South Bend Police are still searching for 23-year-old Anthony Patton Jr. 

He's accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend's mother, 40-year-old Tomara Agnew on Sunday morning.

"Somebody got killed in this apartment and it really freaks me out. I was like shocked." says Tiwanda Jennings, who lives nearby. 

"People feel the solution to any conflict is to use a gun. We got to get past that. We've had three shootings, unrelated to anything. There's no trend with them really other than just violence," says South Bend Common Council President, Tim Scott.

It is a violent trend: three shootings in ten days. 

All in South Bend. 

Scott says it needs to stop now.

"People are making the choice to pick up the gun and use it as a solution or resolution to whatever conflict they have," he explains.

This latest conflict, at the Sunshine Village Apartments, started Sunday morning.

A verbal fight between Agnew and Patton, at Agnew's daughter's apartment, turned deadly.

"Letting a bullet fly, you can't take that back," Scott explains. "Once a bullet leaves a gun, it's not coming back. There are consequences to it. Permanent reminders for a temporary feeling." 

But is there a solution?

Scott says it's not so simple. He even blames conditions in the environment, like lead.

"It's very multi-faceted. There are so many angles, so many different ways that people can make that wrong decision," he says. "Part of the public safety budget is in continuance with the Group violence Intervention Program. And lead abatement. A lot of this can go back to existing conditions with kids, so we're working on the lead issue as well. All of it plays a roll."

But for people like Jennings, who live scared in their homes, it is simple.

"It's so close to home. So close to where me and my baby live," she explains. "There's a not lot of things for people do here. And you know, people do get more into trouble because there's nothing to occupy their time." 

Again, some of Scott's ideas to help with the violence, include programming and community outreach. 

The South Bend Common Council votes on that budget on Monday night.