Bloomington Shooting 'Not Random', Police Say After Five Women Injured, Including Minor

Police have reported that a late-night shooting near Indiana University (IU) Bloomington left five people with gunshot injuries. Meanwhile, four others were hurt as crowds fled the scene early on April 26.

Officers were already stationed in the 400 block of East Kirkwood Avenue at about 12:25 a.m. when they heard several gunshots. A large crowd had also gathered in the street, and panic followed as people began to scatter in all directions.

Police reported that in total, nine people were injured. Five victims were struck by bullets or their fragments, whereas four suffered cuts and scrapes while they tried to escape.

According to WLKY, the injured include four women between the ages of 18 and 22 and a 17-year-old girl. Their wounds were not believed to be life-threatening.

A 20-year-old girl from Plainfield was shot in the upper torso and had bullet fragments lodged in her side. An 18-year-old woman from South Bend had bullet fragments in her ankle and shin, while a 22-year-old woman, also from South Bend, was hit in the back of her thigh. The other two victims were two women, aged 17 and 21, from Indianapolis, who injured their shin, thighs, foot, and ankle.

Bloomington Police Chief Michael Diekhoff said the violence began with a fight between two women near the front of a restaurant on Kirkwood Avenue.

"During the fight, multiple individuals can be seen drawing handguns, and it is believed that two separate individuals then fired their weapons. At that point, everyone began running from the scene. Officers then rushed to the area and began looking for victims," Diekhoff said.

He also stressed the point that it was not a normal shooting episode. “This wasn’t just random gunfire,” he said. “It started as a fight that escalated.”

Investigators are still working to determine if another injured person found later at a nearby gas station was connected to the shooting.

Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson said she was deeply upset by the incident. “There is no place for gun violence in our city,” she said. “Those who were injured are in my prayers this morning.”

The police have confirmed that no arrests have been made yet. It is also unclear if any of the victims are university students.

Multiple agencies, including state police and county deputies, were also present at the scene. Officers used drones, a helicopter, and video footage from phones and nearby businesses to gather evidence.