In a statement released Sunday afternoon, June 15, Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson extended his condolences to families of the person killed and the 11 people wounded in a mass shooting that occurred early Sunday morning.
“My heart aches for our community,” he said. “Once again, our beloved city has been tragically stricken by senseless gun violence.”
In an earlier press release, the Elkhart Police Department said multiple people fired handguns in the West Garfield Avenue/Benham Avenue area of Elkhart early Sunday morning.
Police received a call of shots fired in the 300 block of West Garfield at about 1:11 a.m. June 15.
Twelve people were either taken to area hospitals or showed up on their own, said police, who were said to be processing evidence in a large area between the 200 and 400 blocks of West Garfield.
Some of the injured have already been treated and released, according to the first press release.
“The pain and ripple effects of this devastating event will undoubtedly be felt deeply across our entire community for a long time,” Roberson said in his statement. “Our city is heartbroken, and I, personally, am devastated by this profound loss and trauma.”
The mayor also praised the city’s first responders “for their immediate and courageous actions. Their swift efforts in the face of such a horrific scene undoubtedly saved many more lives, and their dedication is truly commendable.”
Elkhart also was the scene of a mass shooting Jan. 27 at the Martin’s Super Market on East Jackson Boulevard. In that incident, Juan M. Sanchez, 54, who had moved to Elkhart from Illinois in April 2024, shot and killed a store employee, Annasue Rocha, 19, and a store customer, Benjamin S. Jeffrey, 49.
Two Elkhart Police officers, Corporal Paul Vandenburg and Patrolman Ethan Pasternak, were also injured when Sanchez shot at them after they confronted Sanchez outside the store. The officers returned fire, killing Sanchez. They were released from the hospital after being treated for their injuries, and the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s office ruled their use of deadly forced justified.
The Elkhart County Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation, police said, asking anyone with information, video, photos or eyewitness accounts about the June 15 shootings to call the homicide unit at 574-295-2825 or Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.
Tribune staff writer Cory Havens contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Elkhart mass shooting leaves 1 dead and 11 wounded
Read the full article here
