In the early hours of Sunday, March 15, 2026, a gathering on Dunham Street in South Bend, Indiana, turned deadly, leaving 21-year-old Carl Bates dead from a gunshot wound to the head. The evening had begun with a party at a residence where several individuals, including Bates, were present. The atmosphere shifted with the arrival of 19-year-old Riley Morgan-Reed, who, according to witnesses, was displaying a Glock 19 handgun with an extended magazine and making vague threats.
Later in
the evening, Bates, Morgan-Reed, and another person went to a silver Dodge Journey parked nearby to smoke. Shortly after, witnesses reported hearing shouting outside. Bates was then seen exiting the vehicle, yelling that someone had tried to rob him. In the ensuing moments, gunfire erupted near the intersection of Dunham and Kentucky streets. Police were alerted to the situation by ShotSpotter notifications just after 2 a.m. and arrived to find Bates lying on the sidewalk, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting led police to Riley Morgan-Reed of Rolling Prairie. Witnesses at the party provided consistent statements, with many believing Morgan-Reed was the shooter. Investigators found an iPhone near the scene that matched the description of Morgan-Reed's phone. He was located and interviewed by police about twelve hours after the incident. Morgan-Reed admitted to being at the party with a handgun and confirmed he was in the vehicle with Bates. He claimed that he was the one who was a victim of an attempted robbery inside the car. According to his statement to police, he jumped out of the car, ran, and then saw two figures on Kentucky Street, one of whom he believed to be Bates. Morgan-Reed told investigators he then fired his gun at Bates and fled the scene, losing his weapon in the process.
Following the investigation, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office charged Riley Morgan-Reed with murder and a felony firearm enhancement. Prosecutors requested that he be held without bail, arguing that he posed a flight risk and a danger to the community.
