Police name gunman in fatal reunion shooting
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Updated: 7:27 AM Aug 25, 2008
Police name gunman in fatal reunion shooting
South Bend police responded to a shooting at the Southeast Park, near the intersection of Fellows and Wenger Streets. One person was killed and a second person was also shot.
Posted: 7:11 PM Aug 23, 2008
Reporter: Stephanie Stang
Email Address: stephanie.stang@wndu.com
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Update:

Police say 57-year-old Gary Stokes from South Bend has been arrested in connection to the shooting.

Officials tell us Stokes is a relative of a South Bend police officer -- Sergeant Chuck Stokes.

We will continue to update you both on air and online as additional information becomes available.


A large neighborhood reunion ends abruptly with a deadly shooting Saturday evening.

One man is dead and another injured after police say shots were fired at the Southeast Side Reunion. Witnesses say it happened while the event was wrapping up. They say they heard four to five gun shots.

Some dropped to the ground while others fled the scene.
Police say an argument started and one man shot two others during the 9th annual event.

Police were called out just before 7:00, and city, county, and state police were all called out to help.

This is the first time this neighborhood event has been held at the Southeast Side Park.

Police arrested a suspect in his car five blocks south a short time later.

More than 1,000 people were at the reunion when it happened.

Police had to use rifles to control the crowd, and ended up taping off most of the park as a crime scene.

"We had police officer cars here and a lot of people in the park, so it was hard to get the cars here or the ambulance down the streets. There were a lot of people running around here," recounted Sgt. Lee Ross.

"I tried calling 911, but the phone kept being so busy. They said police were already here," says reunion organizer N.C. Coleman.

Names of the suspect and victims have yet to be released.



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