Campus Alert Archive
IU South Bend

Domestic Shotgun Standoff Half-Mile Away Puts IU South Bend Under Ninety-Minute IU Notify Shelter-in-Place

INarmed personemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On the evening of September 22, 2025, Indiana University South Bend issued an IU Notify shelter-in-place order after South Bend Police responded to a domestic disturbance on the 1000 block of S. 23rd Street where suspect Erick Hordos, 41, fired a shotgun during a dispute and then crashed his vehicle near campus before fleeing on foot. Because the armed suspect was believed to be within a half-mile of campus, IU South Bend locked down for approximately 90 minutes before the shelter order was lifted; Hordos was taken into custody the following morning without further incident.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Indiana University South Bend
Public Masters · IN
~4,200 studentsIU Notify
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction196 chars
IU Notify - IU South Bend: Shelter-in-place due to police activity near campus. Armed individual reported in the area. Stay inside, lock doors, and await further instructions. This is not a drill.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

South Bend Police responded around 8 p.m. CDT to the 1000 block of S. 23rd Street, roughly half a mile from IU South Bend's campus on the Mishawaka Avenue corridor
Hordos had fired the shotgun into the ground during the domestic dispute, then pointed it at a witness before driving away; his vehicle then crashed near Northside Boulevard and Clover Street, close to campus
IU South Bend uses the IU Notify system (branded across all IU campuses); unlike the Bloomington campus, South Bend's alerts cover a compact urban commuter campus of approximately 4,200 students
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction206 chars
IU Notify - IU South Bend: Shelter-in-place has been LIFTED. South Bend Police continue to search for a suspect in the area but have determined there is no active threat to campus. Resume normal activities.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The all-clear was issued while the suspect was still at large, which is operationally notable: police concluded the campus perimeter was not at risk even though Hordos had not been apprehended
WNDU reported the shelter order was lifted 'a couple hours later' and police were 'still searching'; Hordos was ultimately taken into custody on September 23, 2025
The wording 'South Bend Police continue to search' in the all-clear is an unusual and transparent acknowledgment of unresolved status -- most all-clears omit this caveat
Context

Background

Indiana University South Bend is a public master's-granting campus of the Indiana University system, serving roughly 4,200 students in an urban commuter setting along Mishawaka Avenue on South Bend's north side. On the evening of Monday, September 22, 2025, South Bend Police responded to the 1000 block of S. 23rd Street at approximately 8 p.m. CDT after a domestic disturbance where 41-year-old Erick Hordos allegedly fired a shotgun into the ground during a dispute with a woman, then pointed the weapon at a witness before fleeing in a vehicle. Hordos's car subsequently crashed near Northside Boulevard and Clover Street -- a location less than half a mile from the IU South Bend campus -- and he exited, fired additional shots, and fled on foot. Because the armed suspect was in the immediate vicinity of campus, IU South Bend issued an IU Notify shelter-in-place alert to the campus community. The shelter-in-place was lifted approximately 90 minutes later, once officers confirmed the campus perimeter was secure -- even though Hordos remained at large until the following morning. Hordos was ultimately charged with intimidation, criminal recklessness, and leaving the scene of an accident. The case highlights a recurring challenge for commuter branch campuses in urban settings: when off-campus domestic violence spills into surrounding blocks, the campus must balance community transparency against operational disruption for evening students.
Outcome
Shelter-in-place lifted approximately an hour and a half after it was issued, once police determined no active threat remained on campus. Erick Hordos was arrested on charges including intimidation, criminal recklessness, and leaving the scene of an accident. No campus injuries.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Suspect in custody after manhunt prompts large police presence in South Bend (WNDU)
    wndu.com
  2. News
    IUSB shelter-in-place lifted; South Bend Police continue search for suspect (WSBT)
    wsbt.com
  3. News
    Man charged in shots fired case that prompted hours-long manhunt in South Bend (WNDU)
    wndu.com
  4. News
    Suspect believed to be armed suspect near IU South Bend now in custody (953 MNC)
    953mnc.com
  5. Official
    IU Notify - Indiana University South Bend
    southbend.iu.edu
Tags
armed-personshelter-in-placedomestic-violenceindianaiu-south-bendbranch-campusiu-notifyurban-campuscommuter-campus2025
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion