Bloomington Police probe 4th shots fired incident in one week

Bloomington Police Department
Bloomington police are investigating four reports of gunfire in the last six days. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Bloomington Police)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police said they found shell casings on the city’s far west side on Monday night in the fourth incident of gunfire since last Wednesday.

No injuries reported in any of the incidents. Police haven’t confirmed whether any of the incidents are connected or made any arrests. The most recent incident was reported shortly before 8 p.m. in the area of Oakland Avenue and Euclid Avenue. No property damage was reported.

Bloomington Police spokesman Elias Mendiola said a 32-year-old female reported she was driving on Euclid, saw two black males point towards her car and heard several gun shots. The two males were seen running away from the area. Officers did not locate any damage to the victim’s vehicle. During a subsequent canvass of the area, several shell casings were recovered.

This follows similar incidents in recent days; the first was Wednesday night in the 900 block of South Clayton. Offices arrived and saw a large group of men walking away and several people left in a silver sedan-style vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to contact BPD detective Tim Power at (309) 434-2579 or [email protected]

Early Sunday morning, police were called to the 2200 block of Todd Drive. Witnesses told police they saw a man running away from the area. Officers found a vehicle with a broken window.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact detective Matt Dick at (309) 434-2475 or [email protected]

Early Monday morning, witnesses told police a suspect vehicle was parked in the 900 block of West Olive Street. Multiple people were seen around the vehicle and shortly after multiple gun shots were heard in the 900 block of West Grove Street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detective Curt Maas at (309) 434-2534 or [email protected] and detective Power at (309) 434-2579 or [email protected]. Your are also encouraged to call McLean County CrimeStoppers at (309) 828-1111. If your call leads to the arrest and indictment of a suspect or suspects you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…