Police said a fight near Kirkwood Avenue drew handguns during Little 500 weekend.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Nine people were hurt early Sunday after gunfire broke out in a large crowd on Kirkwood Avenue near Indiana University, turning a Little 500 weekend celebration into a police investigation, officials said.
The shooting happened in one of Bloomington’s busiest nightlife areas, just west of the IU Bloomington campus, as crowds filled the street after the men’s Little 500 bicycle race. Police said no suspects were in custody Sunday afternoon, and investigators were reviewing surveillance footage, cellphone video and witness accounts to determine who fired and why.
Bloomington police said officers were already stationed in the 400 block of East Kirkwood Avenue at about 12:25 a.m. Sunday, watching a large crowd that had gathered in the street. Officers heard several gunshots and saw people scatter. Capt. Ryan Pedigo, a police spokesperson, said officers “immediately converged on the area” and found multiple wounded people. Five people were taken from the downtown scene by ambulance, one person was taken by a police squad car and two others went to hospitals in private vehicles. Another person was later taken by ambulance from a gas station in the 200 block of West 17th Street with injuries police first believed could be tied to the Kirkwood Avenue shooting.
Officials later said five people were hurt by gunfire or bullet fragments, while four others suffered cuts or scrapes after falling as people ran. A 20-year-old Plainfield woman was shot in the torso, though her condition was not released. Four others had bullet fragments in their legs, feet or ankles, including an 18-year-old woman and a 22-year-old woman from South Bend. Police said it remained unclear whether the injured man found at the West 17th Street gas station was hurt during the Kirkwood Avenue shooting. Officials also had not said whether any of the injured people were IU students.
Investigators said surveillance footage and cellphone videos showed a fight between two women near a restaurant on Kirkwood Avenue shortly before the gunfire. Police said several people then pulled out handguns and two people fired. The gunshots sent people fleeing through the street and toward nearby businesses. No motive had been released Sunday, and police had not announced charges. The Bloomington Police Department said the Indiana University Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police assisted at the scene. Investigators also used drones and a helicopter for hours before sunrise as they searched the area and worked to gather evidence.
The shooting came at the end of Little 500 weekend, one of Indiana University’s best-known annual events. The IU Student Foundation describes the race as the largest collegiate bike race in the United States, with four-person teams competing at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The 2026 races marked the 75th running of the men’s race and the 38th running of the women’s race. The women’s race was held Friday and the men’s race was held Saturday afternoon. By late Saturday night and early Sunday, large crowds had moved into the blocks around Kirkwood Avenue, where bars and restaurants sit near the Sample Gates entrance to campus.
Indiana University said no IU students were believed to be involved in the shooting. IU spokesperson Mark Bode said the violence “marred what should have been a celebratory weekend for the IU and Bloomington communities.” Bode said the university condemned the violence “in the strongest terms” and thanked Bloomington police, IU police, state police and other agencies that responded. IU had sent alerts to students and staff during the emergency, telling them police were responding to shots fired on Kirkwood Avenue and that they should take shelter, lock doors and avoid the area. IU police spokesperson Hannah Cornet said the shooting happened west of Dunn Street and that no shots were fired on campus.
Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson said Sunday morning that she was “so deeply saddened” by the violence and thanked first responders and community members who helped clear the street and restore calm. “There is no place for gun violence in our city,” Thomson said. “Our community is a community that wants to welcome all and create a place where all can belong. And that means we must keep people safe.” Thomson said Bloomington police, the sheriff’s office and IU police did a “remarkable job” dispersing the crowd after the shots were fired. She and Police Chief Michael Diekhoff planned to share more information at City Hall.
Witnesses described a fast shift from a crowded celebration to panic. One witness said a fight between two women did not seem unusual at first because officers were nearby. The witness said that changed when a woman reached toward her pants leg and began firing. Another witness described “a big commotion” before the shots and said people quickly realized they needed to get away. By Sunday morning, Kirkwood Avenue had mostly reopened. Discarded cans and bottles remained along curbs, but police tape was gone and people were again walking near Sample Gates.
The investigation remained active Sunday. Police had not named suspects, announced arrests or released a full list of victims. The next major milestone was the city’s Sunday afternoon briefing, where officials were expected to provide updated details on the victims, evidence and search for those who fired.
Author note: Last updated April 26, 2026.