Charges have been filed in the September 6 shooting on East Kirkwood Avenue in downtown Bloomington that wounded a 19-year-old man. The B Square Bulletin reported[1] that prosecutors filed the charges on October 1 against Dajhon Lee Branson-Orellana, 21, of Bloomington, and that an arrest warrant was issued.
The reported charges are a Level 3 felony count of aggravated battery, a Level 5 felony count of battery with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony count of criminal recklessness, and a Level 6 felony count of pointing a firearm. He had not been booked into the Monroe County jail as of the morning of October 3, according to the outlet. The charges are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What the reports say happened
The B Square Bulletin reported that court records say surveillance video appeared to show Branson-Orellana being pushed during an argument and then firing a handgun. The outlet also reported that witnesses identified him in a double-blind photo lineup. This update about the charges comes from a single outlet, and the Bloomington Police Department investigation is ongoing.
The shooting happened at about 1:08 a.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026, on East Kirkwood Avenue between Lincoln and Grant streets, in front of the downtown Monroe County Public Library branch. WRTV placed the shooting[2] in the 300 block of East Kirkwood Avenue.
The 19-year-old was shot in the neck and was treated at IU Health Bloomington Hospital, according to the reports cited here. The round also struck the Old National Bank building across the street. WTHR also reported on the charges[3], while WIBC published a separate account[4].
What injured people can do next
People hurt in a violent crime often deal with a criminal case and, in some situations, separate civil questions. Keep medical bills, hospital records, and records of missed work together. A broader guide to preserving injury evidence explains why organized records can matter when an insurer or another party disputes what happened or what losses followed.
You can also follow the criminal case. The prosecutor's office and a victim advocate can explain how the case may move forward, what happens once a suspect is in custody, and how restitution works. A victim advocate can also explain Indiana's crime victim compensation program and how to apply for help with certain medical costs.
A civil claim after a shooting is usually directed against the person responsible, but every claim depends on its evidence and available sources of payment. Nothing reported so far suggests that any other party shares responsibility here. If you are considering a claim, a Fort Wayne personal injury attorney can review the available facts without assuming that a criminal accusation decides the civil issues.
Why the Bloomington location matters
This shooting happened on a public street in downtown Bloomington. The Bloomington Police Department is the investigating agency, and the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office is handling the charges. A civil case in Indiana is usually filed in the county where the injury happened or where a defendant lives, so Monroe County would be a likely venue.
The general deadline for an injury claim in Indiana is two years under Indiana Code 34-11-2-4[5]. Indiana also uses modified comparative fault under Indiana Code 34-51-2-6[6]. An injured person whose fault is greater than 50 percent recovers nothing; otherwise, any recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault. The firm's plain-language explanation of Indiana's comparative-fault rule provides more general context.
A criminal prosecution and a civil injury claim are separate matters. Criminal charges do not guarantee compensation, and civil recovery after a criminal act often depends on whether insurance or another source of payment exists.
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 serious injury claims throughout Indiana and can explain how a possible civil claim relates to a criminal case, which deadlines may apply, and whether a source of recovery may exist. Insurance and civil-liability questions can be hotly contested, so the review should begin with the evidence rather than assumptions about fault.
If you were hurt because of someone else's wrongful conduct, you can request a free case evaluation. No outcome can be promised in any case.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
