Violent Weekend in South Bend: Multiple Shootings, Children Among the Injured, and Two Found Dead in Welfare Check
South Bend, Indiana — What should have been a weekend of back-to-school celebrations and family gatherings quickly turned tragic as the city of South Bend was shaken by a string of violent incidents that left multiple people injured and two dead. Over the course of just three days, the community witnessed three separate shootings and a death investigation, with children caught in the crossfire and neighborhoods once again reeling from gun violence.
Friday Night Shooting
The wave of violence began late Friday night, around 11 p.m., when police responded to a ShotSpotter notification in the 300 block of North LaPorte Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where his injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Police have not released additional details on the circumstances of the shooting or possible suspects.
Early Saturday Morning: Child Wounded
Just hours later, the violence continued. Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Howard and Lawrence streets, where they found a 12-year-old boy who had been shot. The child was rushed to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting left the community deeply unsettled, raising concerns about the safety of young people and the persistent presence of gun violence in residential neighborhoods.
Sunday Afternoon Welfare Check Leads to Tragedy
On Sunday around 1 p.m., South Bend police were called to assist with a welfare check for a person from Elkhart County whose last known location was near Pulaski Street and Indiana Avenue. When officers arrived, they discovered a grim scene: a man and woman dead inside a vehicle. According to authorities, both individuals had been shot, and initial evidence suggests the man’s injuries may have been self-inflicted. The case is under investigation, but the circumstances underscore the complexity of violence that often extends beyond random acts into matters of domestic struggle and despair.
Sunday Night Shooting: 8-Year-Old Critically Wounded
Tragedy struck again late Sunday night around 10:15 p.m., when police responded to a shooting in the 700 block of Lindenwood Drive. There, two females — an 8-year-old girl and an adult woman — were struck by gunfire. The child sustained critical injuries, while the adult’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening. The shooting sent shockwaves through the community, as yet another child was left fighting for her life because of senseless violence.
Community Response
In the wake of the violent weekend, community leaders called for urgent reflection and systemic change. Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow issued a powerful statement addressing the shootings and their broader impact on South Bend:
“It is a time when we should be celebrating back to school, welcoming college students to town, and looking ahead to the fall. Instead, we are grappling with multiple shootings which include 2 children under 12, and a policing incident that immediately exposed existing divides.”
Critchlow emphasized the need to move beyond temporary gestures such as marches and rallies, calling instead for long-term solutions that tackle the root causes of violence. He pointed to poverty, lack of opportunity for youth, and systemic racial inequities as key factors that must be addressed.
“We need to address the root cause and be ready to roll up our sleeves and work towards addressing it. That means elevating people out of poverty, providing more support for the middle class, and juvenile focused programming that demonstrates values, provides opportunities, and teaches that decisions have consequences.”
He urged the community to focus on solutions rather than blame, invoking the words of Mr. Rogers: “Look for the helpers.” Critchlow encouraged residents to rise to the occasion by becoming helpers themselves and working together to build a safer, more supportive environment for children and families.
Looking Ahead
As police continue to investigate each of these incidents, South Bend finds itself in the midst of grief, frustration, and an urgent demand for change. For families impacted by this weekend’s violence — especially the children who now carry physical and emotional scars — the need for community support and collective action is greater than ever.
While the pain of these tragedies is still raw, many leaders and residents are committed to ensuring that the victims are not forgotten, and that their suffering becomes a catalyst for real progress in addressing the ongoing cycle of violence in the city.
