SOUTH BEND — A weekend filled with violence on the streets of South Bend has some saying "enough is enough." Five people were shot, one was stabbed, and shots were fired at police investigators, including officer Michael Norby.
No one has been arrested for any of the crimes yet, and in some cases, investigators say witnesses have been unwilling to come forward with information or uncooperative.
That has some living and working in the areas that saw the most violence over the holiday weekend sending a different message, that the violence must come to an end.
It was supposed to be a long holiday weekend filled with celebration, but the real fireworks came on the streets of South Bend.
The first shooting happened around 10:30 Friday night outside the Charles Black Center on Washington Street. Police say Irese Hendrix, 37, of South Bend, was hit twice in the stomach while driving a GMC van. A passenger inside the van told police Hendrix had an earlier fight with the alleged shooter and tried to run him over with the van.
Police located a potential suspect about a half an hour later who had been grazed by a bullet on his head. No charges have been filed in connection with the case.
Two hours later, police say Preston Brown, 21, also of South Bend, was shot in the stomach at the corner of Olive St. and Vassar St. Police say Brown refused to cooperate with their investigation.
Just before 2 a.m. Saturday, police say a man was shot in the arm at The South Bank Bar on Lincolnway East. Police are not releasing his name, but believe that incident also arose following an argument.
All four shooting victims are expected to survive.
But Harold Parks, 28, of South Bend, did not survive.
He was shot in the head in an alley behind Wade's Unique Touch Car Wash in the 1800 block of Lincolnway West just before 6 p.m. Saturday. Investigators hoped Parks' death would mark the end to the holiday surge of violence.
But shots were reported fired at Western Avenue and Philippa Street about six hours later. Then, just after 6:30 a.m., police say a man reported his car was stolen at gunpoint near the corner of Linden and Johnson Streets, though he wasn't hurt.
The violence continued into the morning hours when a pregnant woman was rushed to Memorial Hospital after she was stabbed in the neck and arm during a fight outside the Laurel Court apartments, near Alonzo Watson Park. Police are not releasing the woman's name or age, but say she is expected to recover.
But perhaps the most brazen attack came as police and St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit detectives were investigating the car wash shooting, and became shooting victims themselves.
"There were some threats made to police officers by some individuals that they were angry at the police for some reason or another," said Metro Homicide Unit Assistant Commander Michael Grzegorek. "And myself and Corporal Mike Norby happened to be standing out at the crime scene talking for a minute, and some shots were fired. [They] went over the top of our heads."
Norby was previously hit in the arm and shoulder by gunfire while protecting the life of fellow officer Cpl. Nick Polizzotto during a shootout at the Wooden Indian Motel in April 2007. Polizzotto died from his gunshot wounds.
Norby and Grzegorek gave chase after the shots were fired, but couldn't find the shooters. Grzegorek says neither officer returned fire and neither was hurt.
But those living nearby say their neighborhood has been hurt by the weekend's events.
"It hurts me," said Viola King, who lives across the street from the car wash. "Kids should not be losing their lives like this."
Barbara Suggs, who lives next door, kept her grandchildren inside on a sunny Sunday afternoon, fearing for their safety.
"They won't be out on the porch any more, not out front," she said.
King said she was afraid to go outside, too.
"I leave for work every day at 4 a.m. I didn't get to work today until 6:30 because I didn't want to go while it's dark outside. This made me afraid. And it's a shame to be afraid to live where you buy your home at. It's so bad, I'm talking about moving out of town because I'm not comfortable in my own neighborhood. It's wrong," she said.
It's one big reason why investigators are pleading for help to close as many of the cases as possible. And they won't let the threat of more violence deter them.
"We're just taking extra precautions," said Grzegorek. "We all know it's a dangerous job, and things can happen. But the officers are out there on their beats, working to keep crimes from happening or find them while they're happening."
South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke was out of the country on city business over the weekend, but city spokeswoman Mikki Dobski echoed Grzegorek's sentiments, saying new police department efforts to cut crime "at its root" are working.
She pointed to recent "drunk sweeps" in downtown South Bend and the addition of extra bike patrol officers as having a major impact on the city's homicide rate dropping by more than 50 percent last year.
Even so, Grzegorek says investigators aren't stopping to pat themselves on the back.
"We're still locating witnesses and talking to them, and we're still staying pretty positive about the investigation at this point. But we can always use more. Whatever it is, the smallest detail could mean great things in this investigation," Grzegorek said.
Investigators are still looking for a forest green Pontiac with a temporary license plate, and possible damage to its front end. It was identified by several witnesses as speeding away from the shooting at the car wash.
An autopsy on Parks' body is set for Monday.