South Bend violence escalates with fatal Bissell Street shooting hours after officer injured near Notre Dame
Two people died and one remains in critical condition after a late-night shooting on Bissell Street in South Bend, Indiana, occurring just hours after a separate incident involving a police officer near Notre Dame's campus.
Key points
- Police identified Alaya Maez, 20, and Javon Hopper, 18, as the two victims killed in the Bissell Street shooting, while Geimisha Broadnax, 22, remains in critical condition.
- The Bissell Street incident occurred around 11:25 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at a home near Coquillard Park, following an initial report of a large fight.
- This shooting happened shortly after a 6:30 p.m. incident near Eddy Street Commons where a woman and a police officer were wounded, prompting a temporary shelter-in-place order at Notre Dame.
- The Violent Crimes Unit is investigating the Bissell Street case, while police have not released suspect information for either incident.
- Notre Dame officials described a suspect in the earlier Eddy Street incident as a heavyset Black male with dreadlocks, but it remains unclear if he is connected to the later Bissell Street shooting.
Background
This incident follows a pattern of recent violent crimes in the region, including a fatal shooting at a Billings home in August and a high school shooting in Bakersfield. The earlier Eddy Street Commons shooting on September 19 prompted a police search for a suspect described as a heavyset Black male wearing blue shorts and a black shirt, with Notre Dame Police assisting in the response.
How outlets are covering it
WNDU and WSBT both confirmed the identities of the three victims in the Bissell Street shooting, noting that two died at the scene and one is in critical condition. NBC 5 Chicago focused on the earlier Eddy Street Commons incident, highlighting the injury of a police officer and the subsequent shelter-in-place order at Notre Dame. While WNDU and WSBT emphasized the lack of suspect information for the Bissell Street case, NBC 5 Chicago provided a physical description of a suspect from the earlier Eddy Street incident, though it did not confirm a link between the two events.
Why it matters
The proximity in time and location of these two violent incidents raises concerns about public safety in South Bend, particularly near the Notre Dame campus. The fatal Bissell Street shooting underscores the severity of the situation, while the earlier injury of a police officer highlights the risks faced by law enforcement during crowd-related events.
What to watch
The Violent Crimes Unit will continue investigating the Bissell Street shooting, and police are urging the public to provide tips through Michiana Crime Stoppers. It remains unclear if the suspect described by Notre Dame officials in the Eddy Street incident is connected to the Bissell Street shooting, and no arrests have been announced for either case.
- Victims identified after shooting on Bissell Street in South Bend WNDU
- 2 shot, including police officer, near Notre Dame campus after tailgates NBC 5 Chicago
- South Bend, Indiana shooting: Police officer among 2 people shot near University of Notre Dame campus, officials say ABC7 Chicago
- 2 killed, 1 critically injured in South Bend shooting WTHR
- South Bend police identify two killed in Bissell Street shooting late Saturday WSBT
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