By Susan S. Stevens

Mayor Richard M. Daley is thanking community residents for help in solving one murder case, and is asking for further help in solving others.

Natasha Howliet, a 20-year-old mother of three, was shot at a bus stop at Madison Street and Homan Avenue Oct. 7. “The community really came out and helped us solve this murder,” said Lance Lewis, Daley’s assistant press secretary. Twin brothers were arrested. They had been shooting at others in a gang retaliation, Lewis said.

The mayor’s office and police also seek community help in finding a hit and run driver of an aqua or medium blue vehicle that struck and killed a woman crossing Halsted Street at 18th Street Oct. 13. The victim was Martha Gonzalez, 36, of the 2030 block of west Cullerton Street. Anyone who has information is asked to contact the Major Accident Investigations unit at (312) 745-4521.

Further community help is needed in solving the murders of two college students, Tyrone Williams, 19, and Percy Day, 17, who were shot Sept. 25 on their grandmother’s porch at 3700 W. Polk St.

“Everybody should be outraged,” Lewis said. “It happens too frequently.”

In addition, on Oct. 26 at around 5 p.m., a woman living in the 1100 block of south Racine Avenue was the victim of a home invasion robbery. Two offenders in her apartment grabbed her and demanded money. The victim told them she had none, so they searched the apartment and battered the victim about the face. They took jewelry and electronics before leaving the victim bound on the floor. She was found by her roommate, a University of Illinois at Chicago student.

To report information about this crime, call the UIC Police/Chicago Police Joint Robberty Task Force at (312) 996-2830.