Man shot in hip while walking dogs

A man was shot in South Bend on Sunday while walking his dogs in the 1000 block of Cleveland Street and police said three suspects are at large.

One mom who lives nearby was terrified because her daughter was outside riding her scooter around 4 p.m.when she heard the gunfire.

Climintine Wallace said, “I was sitting out on the porch and I heard one gunshot like boom.”

Evidence markers were placed over drops of blood, marking the path the victim took to get home. The victim told police an attempted armed robbery escalated to shots being fired.

Sergeant Chuck Stokes said, “And he had been shot in the groin area. According to our victim he was walking his dogs in 1000 block of North Cleveland, he was approached by three men who announced a robbery, the victim told them he had no money, and they shot him anyway.”

Stokes said the victim told police there were three suspects who left running from the scene, and police are looking for other witnesses to come forward with information.

Stokes said, “Nobody out here seems to have seen anything so we're going to have to really piece this together.”

Wallace said her children were playing outside were near the corner of Vassar Avenue and Cleveland Street.
Wallace said, "It is sad and it will worry you a lot. It has you scared to even sit on your porch.”

Police said the male victim was taken to Memorial Hospital and he is expected to make a full recovery.

Wallace said she doesn't want her children to grow up around violence.

Wallace said, ‘'He can't even walk his dog down the street without somebody trying to rob him and then he end up getting shot. It's sad.”

Police believe the weapon used was a 9 mm handgun and they are looking for leads. If you have information, call the South Bend Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.