Woman Shot at Front Door In Duncanville: Police

A 74-year-old woman was shot through the door of her home Wednesday morning in the 1300 block of Highland Street in Duncanville, police said.

Police identified the woman as Barbara Strain but couldn't yet say if she was targeted or a victim of a random crime.

"We are talking to them to see if they saw anything, that's kind of where were going from here, detectives will talk to family members, neighbors anybody else who was in neighborhood who might have seen something," said Officer Doug Sisk with Duncanville Police.

The family told NBC 5 that Strain, her grandson, her granddaughter and her three elementary school-aged great grandsons were getting ready for the day when there was a knock at the door.

The family said when Strain opened the door, she didn't know the person and tried to close it and that's when she was shot through the door.

At least four bullet holes were visible in the door.

The Duncanville Police Department said it received a 911 at around 7:25 a.m. Strain was taken to Dallas Methodist and was pronounced dead on arrival, police said.

In January the family said there was some sort of fire at the front door as well, NBC 5 crews could see evidence of it on the door. The Duncanville Fire Marshal said the incident was deemed arson but no one was ever arrested. It is unknown if that crime and Wednesday's shooting are connected.

The family described Strain as generous and loving and said the family's matriarch didn't deserve this.

"The family members and neighbors said this lady helped everyone out, helped neighborhood helped the family members, so yes it doesn’t make any sense," Sisk said.

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