Columbia Falls woman homicide victim in California

A former Columbia Falls woman was the victim of a homicide in Richmond, Calif. last month. Tammie Baker, 43, was shot multiple times about 10 p.m. March 20 on the front walk at the corner of South Fourth and Florida Avenues, said Sgt. Nicole Abetkove, public information officer for the Richmond Police Department.

Police are actively investigating the case, Abetkove said, but at this point they do not have a named suspect in the shooting or a definitive motive in the case.

Baker has lived in California about 10 years, but grew up in Columbia Falls, said her mother, Paula Bennett.

Baker’s death was the first in the city this year. Last year Richmond, which has a population of about 100,000 people, had 16 homicides. Richmond is located in the San Francisco Bay area about 12 miles north of Oakland, Calif.

A memorial service will be held at the Columbia Falls Mortuary, in Columbia Falls, on Saturday April 12, at 3 p.m. The family welcomes everyone to share a memory on a balloon which will be released at the end of the service. A potluck style reception will follow at the Teakettle Community Hall on Nucleus Avenue.