Michigan man sentenced for involvement in South Bend shooting

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. – A Michigan man has been sentenced for his involvement in a shooting in South Bend in February.

James Smith has been sentenced for unlawful possession of a firearm by serious violent felon and criminal recklessness def. shoots a firearm into a building.

On February 21, three men were at a South Bend bar when they got into an altercation with Smith. Smith allegedly struck one of the men and then left the bar with his girlfriend, reports said.

The three men followed Smith and his girlfriend in a separate vehicle.

Smith was seen jumping out of the slowly moving vehicle and running into a house on Roosevelt Street.

The three men continued to follow the van driven by Smith’s girlfriend to a parking lot near Roosevelt Street and Sherman Avenue, the affidavit states.

As the three men stopped behind the van, they saw Smith walk up from behind their vehicle, holding a gun, officials said.

Smith began firing his gun at the three men, reports said.

One suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was transported to the hospital, officials said.

Smith and his girlfriend ran to their home on Roosevelt after the shooting, reports said.

A search warrant of the home found a rifle hidden in the upstairs closed, which was found to be consistent with the caliber of the shell casings found at the scene, police said.