GARY, Ind.–A murder that happened nearly 30 years ago in Gary has been solved. The FBI announced Monday, that Victor Lofton, 57, of Humboldt, Tenn., has been charged with shooting to death Felicia Howard, then 21, and her four-year-old daughter DenNisha.
Lofton was arrested after an investigative team called GRIT (Gang Response Investigative Team), gathered DNA evidence and witness testimony that made their case.
Lofton is charged with two counts of murder for the shooting, which happened July 15, 1992, in the mom and daughter’s second floor apartment on Washington St., in Gary.
Felicia Howard was found naked, shot in the chest. Her daughter was shot in the head.
Lofton denied knowing anything about the murders or that he was even in Indiana, when he was questioned in Sept. 2020. He’s originally from East Chicago, but moved to Tennessee at an early age, said a press release from the FBI. Once the case was reopened in 2019, investigators began collecting evidence, and finally charged Lofton last week.
He was arrested in Jackson, Tennessee and is being held there until extradition to Indiana is arranged.
“This case should serve as notice to those committing violent crimes in Northwest Indiana that the tireless investigators of the FBI’s GRIT Task Force will never rest to ensure justice for those who have been victimized, even if it’s 29 years later,” said FBI Indianapolis GRIT Task Force Supervisory Special Agent Michael Peasley.
The GRIT Task Force is a team of law enforcement professionals working in unison to reduce violent crimes and other federal criminal violations in Northwest Indiana in support of its local law enforcement partners. This is the 9th cold case GRIT has solved since 2018, said the FBI. GRIT investigators are asking anyone with information on a cold case to call 219.942.4899.
