Ashley Dominique Taylor, 34, of Gary, has been charged in connection with the September 7 death of a man who investigators allege she struck and ran over with her vehicle during a dispute.

According to court documents, police were called to the 4400 block of West 20th Place in Gary during the nighttime hours for a report of a man being run over in a driveway. Officers found the man lying near the driveway with extensive injuries and facial trauma. Taylor was at the scene and allegedly told police, “it was an accident” and “I didn’t mean to.”

Witnesses told investigators Taylor and the man had been having problems in the weeks leading up to the incident and had been arguing for several days. One witness reported hearing a commotion and children screaming before going outside and finding the man severely injured in the yard with a car on the grass nearby.

Investigators observed tire tracks extending from the driveway into the grass near the man’s body. A piece of plastic believed to be from the undercarriage of a Hyundai Elantra was found in the driveway. The Hyundai was parked nearby, and investigators observed a mark on its hood that appeared to indicate someone had recently come into contact with it. A large empty tequila bottle was found inside the vehicle and another empty tequila bottle was found in the yard. Records showed the Hyundai was registered to Taylor.

The Lake County Coroner identified the male as Chilly Cooper, 42, of Gary. An autopsy determined the man’s cause of death was blunt-force trauma with multiple fractures, and his death was preliminarily ruled a homicide.

According to court documents, a child witness told investigators Taylor and Cooper were arguing outside about their relationship. The child allegedly heard Taylor say, “bi***, watch this,” before seeing Taylor drive the Hyundai into the man with the front of the vehicle. The witness said Taylor then rolled over the man before reversing the vehicle back onto the street.

Taylor was later taken to the Gary City Jail. An investigator reported smelling alcohol coming from her.

During an interview the following day, Taylor told investigators Cooper was her on-and-off-again boyfriend and that the two had been drinking tequila and smoking marijuana inside the Hyundai. Taylor said she drank multiple glasses containing one to two ounces of tequila at a time and said she was drunk. She denied arguing with Cooper that night and said they were “just chilling.”

Taylor said she did not remember striking Cooper, driving into the yard or what happened until moments later when Coopers daughter was yelling that Taylor had hit her father with the car. Taylor described their relationship as toxic but said there had been no incident between them that day. Investigators said her account conflicted with witness statements describing an argument immediately before the man was struck.

Charges filed September 9, 2026:

Murder

Aggravated Battery – Posing a Substantial Risk of Death, Level 3 Felony

Causing Death When Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated, Level 4 Felony

Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Level 5 Felony

Domestic Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, Level 5 Felony

Domestic Battery Committed in the Presence of a Child Less Than 16 Years Old, Level 6 Felony