Shooting in South Bend, on North Johnson Street, leaves 11-year-old dead
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Thursday, around 5:00 p.m., South Bend Police responded to a shooting in the 600 block of North Johnson Street, where officers located an 11-year-old male victim, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
The victim was taken to the hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
His name is being withheld pending next-of-kin notifications.
This is an active and ongoing investigation by the South Bend Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit.
If anyone has information, they’re encouraged to contact Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.
Mayor James Mueller has responded to Thursday's tragedy, saying "This is another tragic loss of life from senseless gun violence, and my prayers are with his loved ones. We need to come together as a community to protect our kids and keep them alive and free. The City will continue to share relevant updates as the investigation proceeds. I urge residents with information to share it with our investigators or anonymously through Crime Stoppers. The violence must stop, and justice must be served through our legal system."
2nd District Councilman Henry Davis Jr. also responded, saying "Our children need our guidance and support. I am calling for programming that has worked in other places in the U.S. such as the Peacemakers Fellowship program that has dropped gun violence in a California community by 70% over a 7- or 8-year timespan. I am asking that there is intentional, ongoing funding for youth programming that requires more than a ball. We must develop and expand after school programming, fund mental health services, dispatch social workers, keep our schools open for recreation during the summer months and implement a lock box program for gun owners. We must exhaust every option to save our youth regardless of income or location. Our children are our future."