Nine people sustained injuries from gunfire early Sunday in downtown Bloomington, where thousands gathered after the annual Little 500 bicycle race.
A spokesperson for the Bloomington Police Department said eight of the injured people were transported to a local hospital directly from the scene of the shooting on Kirkwood Avenue. It was not immediately clear how seriously any of them were hurt.
In a brief appearance early Sunday on Kirkwood Avenue, Mayor Kerry Thomson said she was "so deeply saddened" by the violence.
"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 that she was "so deeply saddened that this happened in our city last night" and thanked first responders for their handling of the incident. She said those injured were in her prayers.
Thomson said she and police chief Michael Diekhoff would share more information later Sunday at a news conference at City Hall.
According to Captain Ryan Pedigo, a Bloomington police spokesperson, officers were already monitoring a large crowd that had gathered on the 400 block of Kirkwood Avenue when gunfire erupted shortly after midnight.
“Officers immediately converged on the area and located multiple wounded individuals,” Pedigo said in an emailed statement. “It is not currently known how many of the wounded individuals suffered direct gunshot wounds or if their injuries were a result of being struck by bullet fragments.”
Pedigo said no one was in custody as of Sunday morning. He asked that anyone with information or video of the shooting contact police.
Pedigo said that ambulances transported five people to the hospital from the scene on Kirkwood Avenue. Police took one in a squad car, and two others went by private vehicle, he said. An ambulance also transported a person from a gas station who had “injuries believed to be related to the shooting.”
Investigators used drones and a helicopter for hours before sunrise Sunday. Investigators with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and Indiana State Police are assisting, Pedigo said.
The shooting took place only blocks away from the campus of Indiana University, which condemned the violence "in the strongest terms."
“Last night marred what should have been a celebratory weekend for the IU and Bloomington communities," spokesperson Mark Bode said in an emailed statement.
"While no IU students are believed to be involved, we condemn the violence in the strongest terms," Bode said. "Our thoughts are with the victims of this tragic incident."
Bode said that safety "remains our top priority and we remain in close coordination with local and state law enforcement.”
Earlier, IU sent a series of alerts to students and staff urging them to take shelter, lock their doors, and stay away from Kirkwood Avenue.
Video uploaded to social media showed people fleeing through the street.
Hannah Cornet, a spokesperson for IU police, said the shooting happened west of Dunn Street, where bars and restaurants were hosting late-night events. She said that no shots were fired on campus.
According to Cornet, extra officers were brought in ahead of the race weekend, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to Bloomington each year.
She said that "we increased our presence across campus, making safety and quick response times top priorities for our community."
