What started as a night of celebration near Indiana University quickly spiraled into chaos after gunfire broke out, leaving at least nine people injured in a frightening scene early Sunday morning.
According to the Bloomington Police Department, officers rushed to Kirkwood Avenue just before 12:30 a.m. on April 26 after multiple reports of shots fired during post-party celebrations tied to the school’s popular Little 500 bike race. When they arrived, they found several people wounded as panic spread through the crowded area.
Nine victims were transported to local hospitals, with five taken by ambulance. Others were rushed in a police vehicle and private cars, while another injured person showed up at a nearby gas station with wounds believed to be connected to the shooting.
Authorities say it’s still unclear how many of the victims were hit directly by gunfire versus injured by bullet fragments as the situation unfolded.
As the chaos broke out, Indiana University issued an urgent warning to students, telling them to shelter in place, lock their doors, and avoid the area.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Indiana University Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana State Police, responded to the scene as officers worked to secure the area and assist victims.
So far, no suspects have been taken into custody, and investigators are still working to piece together exactly what led to the violence.
Witnesses say the scene was packed with people celebrating when things suddenly took a turn. One person told local media that a fight broke out between two women moments before the shooting began.
“I didn’t think too much of it at first,” the witness said. “But then I saw a girl reach toward her pants leg and start firing. By then, I was already running.”
Another witness described the moment the crowd realized what was happening.
“It was a big group of people, a lot going on, and then the shots went off,” they said. “I told my friend, ‘We’ve got to get out of here—they’re shooting.’”
The Little 500, held annually at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington, is one of the university’s biggest events of the year, drawing large crowds and celebrations across the city.