Neighbors calling for action after string of deadly shootings

SOUTH BEND, Ind.—South Bend police were called to the Waterford Glen Apartment Complex on Edison Road just before midnight on Thursday.

The two male victims suffering gunshot wounds at the scene, 21-year-old Malik Balderos and 20-year-old Ricky Kinds Jr., left dead. Nearby neighbors living less than a block away, heard the gunfire from inside their homes.

“Last night between 11 and 12 o’clock I heard click, click, click, click, click,” South Bend resident Eileen Sullivan said.

“Seriously seconds after the first shot was fired it was rounds. I kid you not I counted maybe 21 to 23 in a row, just so loud, so alarming. It was so nerve wrecking because it’s so close to me,” South Bend resident Hannah Doyle said.

Just last Saturday, 3 separate shootings happened, leaving many injured and a 16-year-old dead.

Gun violence in South Bend, unfortunately nothing new for some neighbors.

“The gun violence has increased substantially in the last couple years I mean hearing gunshots, even in this area, it’s not uncommon honestly,” Doyle said.

“My neighborhood, we’ve had issues, we’ve had some violence but this place here, it’s constant. If you look it’s probably a nuisance,” Sullivan said.

Common or uncommon, the emotions neighbors feeabout the reoccurring violence remain the same.

“It shouldn’t happen... it should happen. And when it happens at your back door, it’s scary and then to actually meet the mother of one and cry with her...nobody should have to, no neighborhood should have to go through this,” Sullivan said.

“It’s ridiculous, I’m applauded still to say the least. I was nervous, I was scared last night but after those feelings passed I just feel sickened because it’s just ridiculous. It makes me so upset that we live in this city and it’s just not getting better,” Doyle said.

These neighbors, calling for action to take guns off the streets, for county officials step up and do more and for the community to work together so that no more lives are taken too soon.

“It’s not only crime rates, gun usage, it’s the fact that our children are so susceptible and they can be easily veered to do something negative in this way, but also the fact that it’s so easy for them to find,” Doyle said.

“Please I’m asking for all of our neighborhoods in this area, please work with us. Please! We can’t be losing lives, we can’t be,” Sullivan said.

At this time no suspects are in custody.

Officials are asking you to call the Metro Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers with any information you may have on this crime.