Crime numbers received following violent start to the year in South Bend, Elkhart and Mishawaka

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Three Indiana cities witnessed a violent start to the new year. Elkhart, Mishawaka and South Bend saw multiple shootings in January, with some of them involving minors.

ABC57 reached out to the South Bend, Mishawaka and Elkhart police departments and their public information officers shared the Police Chief's weren't available to speak on Friday. We did gather data about what took place to what is described as a "usually violent" start of the year.

According to the Elkhart Police Department's public information officer, Jessica McBrier, between January 1 and February 27 of this year, EPD responded to four criminally assaulted shootings which resulted in death or injury. This doesn't include accident firearm discharges and suicides.

EPD also responded to four stabbings/cuttings. Compared to 2025 within the same date range, nothing has changed. In 2025 between January 1 and February 28, EPD responded to four criminally assaulted shootings and four stabbings/attempted stabbings

"Unfortunately, this year has gotten off to a bit of a more violent start." said South Bend Mayor James Mueller.

South Bend Mayor James Mueller sat down with ABC57 this week and acknowledged South Bend had a rough start, similar to Elkhart.

"The strategy remains the same — we're working with the community to convince those that are on the violent path to put the guns down and take up a better path of opportunity."

So far this year in South Bend, there have been 11 shootings — eight in January, three in February.

Three people were killed in January, and one person was killed in February.

"Our law enforcement, working with our judicial system and prosecutors will work to stop them and hold them to account."

The South Bend Police Department's public information officer says the amount of violence in January was unusual, especially with it being so cold outside.

She says crime has "leveled off to what we would typically expect for February going into march."

The most recent fatal shooting in South Bend happened on February 21 and is being investigated as possible self-defense.

We reached out to the Mishawaka Police Department's public information officer to learn how many shootings and stabbings MPD responded to and have not received a response yet.