Residents say 13-year-old victim of a shooting was an innocent bystander

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- South Bend Police are still searching for a shooter or shooters in an apparent drive-by shooting Thursday night. The 13-year-old victim was at his neighbor’s house when shots were fired.

The shooting happened just before 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night on the 1200 block of E. Donald Street in South Bend.

Bobby Hildebrand, resident of the home where the boy was shot, was watching television with his neighbor, the 13-year-old victim, and the boy’s friend. A girl then came to the door from the boy’s home, looking for him, according to Hildebrand. When the victim approached the door, two cars drove by and fired shots, according to Hildebrand.

“He was just sitting inside with me,” said Hildebrand. “And then when that girl came to the door, she asked for him and I went and got him and when he came to the door the shots came,” said Hildebrand.

Hildebrand has known the victim for years and told ABC 57 that he looks out for him and just wanted his home to be a safe place to go.

“Shots rang out, but it sounded like firecrackers.”

Those firecracker sounds then ended up being what Hildebrand described as between 10-12 gunshots.

“Basically everyone’s adrenaline was going,” said Hildebrand. “He didn’t even know he was hit at first. I mean he came walking back to the living room and that’s when he noticed,” said Hildebrand.

Hildebrand never expected this to happen in his neighborhood, let alone to his own home. He worried they were innocent victims and feared what could happen next.

“I don’t know...I don’t think there’s anywhere safe with all these shootings,” said Hildebrand.

Kerin Hildebrand, Bobby’s wife, was at work when the shooting happened. She then rushed home as soon as she heard the news. It is shocking for their home to be a part of the violence and a 13-year-old victim put things into perspective, according to Kerin Hildebrand.

“It’s scary...that’s one thing,” said Hildebrand. “You don’t think about it happening to your neighborhood or your house or anything like that and it just happens. You don’t think about it at first but it happens and can happen anywhere, anytime,” explained Hildebrand.

South Bend Police confirmed that shots were fired from a dark-colored vehicle. Police are still searching for a shooter or shooters.

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