Police investigate deadly shooting in South Bend

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Shooting behind Wade's Unique Touch Car Wash

Police responded to a fatal shooting in the alley behind a South Bend car wash Saturday night, July 5, 2008. (WSBT photo)

By Jim Pinkerton

SOUTH BEND — Police say a man was killed Saturday night after a shooting on Lincolnway West.

At this point, police do not believe this shooting is related to four others in the past 24 hours. Neighbors say it's a Fourth of July they'll never forget.

"I heard about four to five gun shots, and then I saw smoke coming either from in between the car wash or the commercial business door," said neighbor Jason House.

Police say a man was fatally shot in the head in the alley behind Wade's Unique Touch Car Wash. They have not identified the victim.

"It's sad. There's a lot of good people around here so I hate to see something like this happen," said House.

People who live near the Charles Black Center couldn't agree more. Police say a woman was shot in the parking lot late Friday night after two men got into a fight.

"At some point one of the individuals displayed a firearm. And one of the relatives trying to protect the unarmed individual, trying to distract the person with the weapon, drove into the line of some gun fire," said South Bend Police Sgt. Gene Eyster.

Neighbors say shootings near the center are rare, but they say when the holidays roll around, so does the violence.

"Everybody just brings old stuff from when they were beefing and all that. So it only happens during the holidays," said neighbor Phallonte Gunn.

Police say the holiday isn't the only factor that contributes to the violence.

"The weather doesn't help matters when it's warm and hot. A lot more people are out. A lot more people are indulging in alcoholic beverages and tempers are going to flare occasionally," said Eyster.

In the car wash shooting, police are looking for a forest green four-door Pontiac, made between 2000 and 2005. Investigators say it has damage to the front right side and an Indiana temporary paper license plate.

St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit investigators are questioning witnesses.

Tuesday, Jul 8 at 3:47 PM What tha???? wrote ...

I can't believe the way people go on after something as serious as this. This is deff. not a laughing or joking matter. Someone has lost their life? Have you no shame!!!

Monday, Jul 7 at 6:24 PM Sean Lowe wrote ...

Thou shalt not kill... why is everyone killing innocent people?? I don t understand why we have so many churches.. and not learn not to harm others... where are the preachers and the nuns to tell us again and again so we won t forget?? some priest outthere???

Monday, Jul 7 at 6:18 PM Jaccques wrote ...

I read where someone said it was the sign of the times. They are so correct. The bible speaks abouh this very thing. The bible was written many many years ago, but still hold true right now. According to the bible, "there is nothing new under the sin". I pray for this family that have lost their loved one. He may have been dealing in only GOD knows what, but he was some body's child, a brother, a father. He will be missed by people who love him. No matter what he did wrong. He was loved.

Monday, Jul 7 at 5:33 PM Don't Judge wrote ...

OK ONCE AGAIN Yeah well if your "work" to better the community is anything like the judgement you have laid on this situation, maybe you should try another line of work! I totally agree there is a problem with the carwash but there is no reason to disrespect someone that passed away the way this man did. Attack the carwash not the innocent people involved.

Monday, Jul 7 at 5:22 PM Sweat Shop wrote ...

To former hoosier, I work at AM General. A person can do, be whatever. It's not what you have done, it's what you doing now. Restaurants and factories hire felons. Nursing Homes also hire felons. Take CNA training classes. The thing is a person mess up when they lie about their criminal backround. PEACE!!!!!

Monday, Jul 7 at 12:46 AM Once Again wrote ...

to Don't Judge, you have no clue what I do on a daily basis to help improve this city so give it a break. This car was has been trouble since it opened.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 9:40 PM Mr.D wrote ...

The only thing good in South Bend is the S.B.C.F.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 9:32 PM Here come the judge wrote ...

I condemn all of you that judge to 1 year of judging no-talent contests. I condemn all of you that judge people for judgin people to 2 years of the same.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 8:13 PM former hoosier wrote ...

To sweat shop, where n the heck are the jobs in south bend? Please form a list of companies of those who are hiring-post it. Be sure they want to hire felons because the majority of people now a day have them, including misdemeanors. where do you work? Can the people involved work there? Lets keep it real!

Sunday, Jul 6 at 7:32 PM Glossy wrote ...

Carly: it would be great if we could all get along. Why don't you go to the bad parts of the city in the middle of the night and tell the drinkers, druggies and thieves this. The people who do not want to get along - they think everything is owed to them

Sunday, Jul 6 at 5:20 PM Dont Judge wrote ...

For the comment ONCE AGAIN wrote, you don't know anything about the victim and how dare you comment on someone that lost his life trying to save another life?? It amazes me how quick people are to judge but I dont see you out here trying to make anything any better. Your thoughtless comment was better kept to yourself than here for anyone to read. There isnt just one person to blame; this problem goes far beyond the control of 1 person, forget the blaming and try working towards a solution.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 4:20 PM T Gaskill wrote ...

The people that do these things and or hang around places that this stuff happens at lack the mentality and the social skills to be with the general public. The more I see these stories the more I feel that the judicial system just needs to lock these people up for the rest of their lives.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 4:14 PM u all don't know what you are talking wrote ...

If you weren't there you need not to open your mouths. Just wait until the facts come out before you start to say anything. Innocent people die for no reason at all. It is not up to you to judge a person.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 3:17 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Hey Bea, its called drugs and the "people" that sell them. Another thing "figues don't lie, liers figure".

Sunday, Jul 6 at 2:40 PM Sweat Shop wrote ...

These people are just not thinking and don't care. They don't need jobs, they need life in prison. It's jobs out here, hell i sweat all day in a factory and i am a woman, a young one at that. but .... i don't wanna work next to nobody like this that im reading about hell they might get to sweating and shoot everybody.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 2:06 PM Hummm wrote ...

The Mayor is not running around shooting people!!! Is he? Why do you blame the Mayor, HE did not raise these FOOLS. It's the sign of the times.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 12:57 PM Janice wrote ...

In response to the comment made by JR... I run a successful business between Michigan and Bendix and find it interesting that people like you can be so narrow minded. Crime happens in all parts of town. Individuals make choices for themselves and that shouldn't be a stereotype for the rest of the community. The majority of the clientele of my business are good people, who shouldn't be referred to as "garbage."

Sunday, Jul 6 at 12:19 PM Carly wrote ...

It's no wonder that we have such violent crimes. First of all we have people calling each other names, treating each other without regards to how one another feels. Then when something bad happens we blame everyone but ourselves. It certainly isn't the Mayor's fault. We as a community need to take care of each other. We can't just walk around treating everyone like crap...someday it's going to catch up on all of us...

Sunday, Jul 6 at 12:14 PM taiho tom wrote ...

lets see... its about noon sunday. afew hours from now the family of the deceased will be loading their pistols and there will be breakng news for the media. but our mayor will probably put this stat. on the city of niles to camoflague our violent stats.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 10:19 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I got an idea what if these people could actually have jobs. O i forgot no jobs here. Thanks mayor Lickme.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 10:17 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Lincolnway West is bad but there are some nice people living there. Most of the people that come there to cause trouble actually live in the Mishawaka area. The west side is just there messing ground. Thanks Mayor Lickme

Sunday, Jul 6 at 8:35 AM JR wrote ...

The entire stretch of Lincolnway between Michigan and Bendix should be bulldozed. Maybe save the new fire station. The rest is garbage.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 2:17 AM Once Again wrote ...

One thug killing another.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 2:05 AM LAS VEGAS wrote ...

Lockem up you are wrong about las vegas i lived in south bend from 88 to 02 . Las vegas is a deadly city murders daily but you won't see it hanging out on the strip. but in the city beware crime is there

Sunday, Jul 6 at 12:58 AM Roscoe wrote ...

You certainly CAN trace paper plates IF they were assigned properly by the source, which is usually a car dealership. I have seen many of these plates long expired on vehicles moving about and wonder if I can see it, why not a police officer. Also there are dealerships who try to accomodate a customer by awarding more time on the temporary tag than is intended and some have even been know to issue a second plate to extend the time a car owner has to deal with the expense or inconvienence.

Sunday, Jul 6 at 12:07 AM Anonymous wrote ...

find the losers and throw them in the river

Saturday, Jul 5 at 10:31 PM Set Up wrote ...

This man was from niles that got killed and remember you can not trace paper plates .Lord keep us safe

Saturday, Jul 5 at 9:56 PM Bea Traynor wrote ...

Look it up. FBI statistics. Wikipedia. New York city is one of the safest cities; while crime rates in the midwest, small towns as well, the so called haven of "values", is higher than anywhere else and getting worse. Look up the best to worst cities for violent crime, then look up each city on wiki and study the population stats. Look up the human development index. I won't debate you about the causes; but you can't deny reality. Something is wrong. What do you think is the cause?

Saturday, Jul 5 at 9:29 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Our city is better than this. What a disgrace. Keep the police officers in your prayers as they have to deal with this human garbage.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 8:53 PM Anonymous wrote ...

This 21 Century City of Mayor Luecke's is becoming more violent everyday. I bet the crime statistics will altered not show the true facts. Oh well whats new.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 8:49 PM Miss Piggy wrote ...

Summer is here. Mayor are you hearing the labor pains of SB? You are the leader of this town Speak Up! Hire more officers, Three strikes you are out..the person that did this has had other run ins with the law...watch..

Saturday, Jul 5 at 8:33 PM South Bend wrote ...

Ok well these people all live in the 10 hundred block of adams wait intill tonight it was bad last night

Saturday, Jul 5 at 8:24 PM Lockem up wrote ...

What is the problem in South Bend? Is all the detritus sliding in from Chicago, Detroit, Mexico, Hell? I just spent 3 weeks on the road going West and didn't see any level of criminal activity on their news as we seem to experience daily hereabouts. Stayed at Las Vegas for 7 days, you know Sin City, and saw nary a shooting reported. They also drive much more respectfully west of the Mississippi. There's definitely something not right here in this river city. Get on it Mayor, police, and judges.

Saturday, Jul 5 at 7:12 PM Gang Hater wrote ...

Shoot each other up, just don't hit any innocent kids please

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