What was reported
A third person has died from injuries suffered in a shooting in the 1300 block of Bissell Street in South Bend, St. Joseph County, late on Saturday, September 19, 2026. WNDU reported[1] that Geimisha Broadnax, 22, died on Tuesday, September 22, after being shot Saturday night.
Two other people, Alaya Maez, 20, and Jo'Von Hopper, 18, had already been confirmed dead in earlier reporting about the same shooting. WSBT also reported[2] on the investigation.
According to WNDU, no suspect has been identified and no arrest has been made. The South Bend Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is investigating and has asked the public for information. The available reporting does not state what led to the gunfire, so this article does not suggest a cause or assign responsibility.
What families should consider next
A criminal case and a civil case are separate. The state brings a prosecution to determine guilt and punishment. A deceased person’s estate may bring a civil claim to seek damages. A civil claim may exist even when no one is charged, and the absence of a conviction does not automatically end a possible civil claim.
Responsibility may be hotly contested, especially when the person who caused the harm has not been identified. Depending on facts that are not established here, a civil investigation may examine whether another person, property owner, or business bears responsibility. Indiana premises claims, including claims involving allegedly inadequate security, turn on specific evidence. You can read more about negligent-security claims in Indiana.
Records should be preserved before they disappear. Police and coroner records, medical records, and private security footage may matter. Camera footage can be overwritten quickly, so timely preservation requests are important. This guide explains how surveillance and doorbell video may be preserved.
In Indiana, a wrongful death claim is brought by the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate, not by relatives individually. Families may need to open an estate and obtain the appointment of a personal representative before taking formal action. They should also keep funeral and burial records, medical bills incurred before death, and documents showing lost financial support.
Early insurance forms, releases, and requests for recorded statements deserve careful review. Insurance companies may aggressively defend civil claims, and a signed release can affect legal rights. A family preparing for a consultation can use this personal injury consultation checklist.
Why the location and dates matter
The shooting occurred on Bissell Street in South Bend, St. Joseph County, and the South Bend Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is the investigating agency. Where an event occurred and where the parties live can affect which court may hear a civil case. Estate proceedings are generally connected to the deceased person’s county of residence.
Indiana’s wrongful death statutes differ according to the circumstances. Ind. Code 34-23-1-1 governs the general wrongful death action. Ind. Code 34-23-1-2 addresses the death of an adult who leaves no spouse and no dependent children. Ind. Code 34-23-2-1 governs the death of a child and does not apply here because each person identified in the reporting was an adult. A broader explanation is available in the firm’s guide to Indiana wrongful death damages.
Most Indiana personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. The wrongful death period runs from the date of death. When people injured in the same event die on different dates, each potential claim may have a different deadline.
Indiana’s Comparative Fault Act, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, generally reduces a recovery by the injured person’s percentage of fault and bars recovery when that person’s fault is greater than 50 percent. Fault depends on evidence, not initial news reports.
If a government entity could share responsibility, separate notice rules can apply. Ind. Code 34-13-3-8 generally requires notice within 180 days for a claim against a political subdivision, and Ind. Code 34-13-3-6 generally requires notice within 270 days for a claim against the state. Nothing in the reporting indicates that a government entity is responsible here.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a personal injury law firm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm handles Indiana wrongful death and serious injury claims. Chad Delventhal can explain who has authority to bring a claim, which records should be preserved, what damages Indiana law may recognize, and how deadlines may apply. Families can request a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
