Shooting on Beale Street, leaving one dead, deemed justifiable

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A fatal shooting on South Bend’s Beale Street in December was deemed a justifiable homicide by investigators, according to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.

Police were called to a home in the 1100 block of Beale Street on December 14 for a report of a shooting. When they arrived, they found 68-year-old Richard Davis suffering from a gunshot wound. He later died at the hospital.

According to the investigation, police were called to the scene by the homeowner, who admitted to shooting Davis once. The homeowner said he and his wife arrived home that night and were about to enter their house when their security alarm went off.

As he approached the back fence of his yard, the homeowner reported seeing Davis near the back gate with a chainsaw. Davis allegedly brandished that chainsaw and, fearing he’d be hurt or killed, the homeowner shot Davis once, according to police reports. 

The South Bend Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit gathered video and security system logs from the scene and found a chainsaw near Davis. The chainsaw belonged to the homeowner and had been stored in his garage before the incident.

In deciding whether the shooting was justified or not, investigators said the State “cannot disprove that the homeowner was honestly and reasonably in fear of serious bodily injury or death.”

Because it was ruled a justifiable homicide, the homeowner will not be charged, and his identity will not be released by police.