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SOUTH BEND — A home invasion left a South Bend couple seriously injured and three others hurt. Now, five suspects are behind bars.
It's still unclear if this particular home was targeted or if it was a random attack, but we do have more details on what happened just before 10 Thursday night...who the suspects are, and what neighbors think.
It's like scene from a Norman Rockwell painting.
"It's been a lovely neighborhood. At least this block here has been great for the kids. They play in the summertime up and down, riding their bikes so it seemed really safe and family friendly," said Ryan Madison, who lives in the neighborhood.
But that sense of safety was broken Thursday night when police cars arrived near Madison's home in the 1000 block of North Michigan Street.
"I heard the police officers, shouting,” he said. “I didn't know what it was at the time so I came out just to see what it was and I saw the policemen with their guns yelling at the people in the house to come out."
Police were called to the home of Kent and Sandra Price for a burglary. They arrested 47-year-old Walter Neeley, 21-year-old Khawana Lamar, 19-year-old Lee Griffin, 18-year-old Nate Coley and 17-year-old Gemari Cotton. Police say the suspects were leaving the home, some carrying stolen items. All five are charged with robbery and burglary.
"I was surprised when something like this happens, particularly when it's in your neighborhood, but this is the world we live in, there are things like this that happen," said Judie Mengel, who lives in the neighborhood.
Police say they found the Prices inside with serious stab wounds to their necks. Both are now in serious, but stable condition at a local hospital. Christine Jordan was visiting the Prices with her two young children. Jordan and her son were also stabbed. Her daughter was hit with a blunt object. All three were treated and released.
"Obviously I'm concerned because if they could break into that house, they could break into any of these houses on this block, so yeah it concerns me, but I don't know what can be done about it if anything," said Madison.
The homeowner's daughter was also home at the time with some friends. They hid inside her upstairs bedroom and called 911. The daughter told police she heard the suspects order her father and the others on the ground.
Now, so far, the suspects have only been charged with burglary and robbery. It's unknown if further charges are pending. Police say three of the suspects have confessed. Their arraignments are scheduled for Monday.