Bloomington, Indiana – A shooting on Bloomington’s west side sent two young men to the hospital before sunrise Thursday, prompting an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office into what authorities believe was a targeted attack.
The gunfire happened while both victims were sitting inside a vehicle, according to investigators. Despite the early-morning violence, the sheriff’s office said there is no indication of an ongoing threat to people in the surrounding area.
Deputies were called at 4:08 a.m. on Sept. 18 to the 3400 block of West Festive Drive after receiving a report that someone had been shot and was being taken to a local hospital in a personal vehicle.
When deputies arrived at the hospital, they encountered two Bloomington men who had suffered gunshot injuries. One victim is 21 years old and the other is 20, the sheriff’s office said.
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Investigators later determined that both men had been inside a vehicle when the shots were fired. Authorities have not released additional details about what led up to the shooting, how many shots were fired or whether a suspect has been identified.
Both victims were being treated for wounds described as non-life-threatening.
Based on the information gathered so far, investigators believe the shooting was targeted rather than a random act. The sheriff’s office said there is no ongoing safety issue in the area connected to the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, and detectives are now seeking information that could help establish what happened during the early-morning incident.
Authorities are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity or who has security camera footage from the area around the 3400 block of West Festive Drive.
Even footage that does not appear to show the shooting itself could potentially provide investigators with information about vehicles or people who were in the area around the time gunfire was reported.
Anyone with information or relevant security footage is asked to contact Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Detective Rushing at 812-803-6311.
The sheriff’s office has not released further information about possible suspects or the events that preceded the shooting as the investigation continues.
