On the early morning of September 21, 2019, tragedy struck in South Bend, Indiana, when local law enforcement responded to reports of gunfire on the city's east side. Around 3:50 a.m., South Bend Police officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of East Cedar Street, following calls indicating that multiple shots had been fired and several individuals had been struck. Upon their arrival, first responders discovered a chaotic scene with four gunshot victims.
Among them was one male who had sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the location.
The victim was identified as Edward Lavelle McCurry, a 34-year-old Black male known affectionately to friends and family by the nickname 'Maine.' Born in Chicago, Illinois, McCurry had made a life in South Bend where he was remembered as a loving father of two children and a dedicated family man who enjoyed fashion and music. At the time of his death, he was employed at a local restaurant and was described by those who knew him as a reserved yet humorous individual who prioritized his family's well-being.
Investigators with the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit determined that the violence likely stemmed from a dispute involving two groups of females that occurred shortly before the shooting. The altercation escalated into gunfire, which ultimately claimed McCurry's life and left three women injured. The surviving victims were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, though one reportedly required readmission due to complications. Despite the presence of multiple witnesses and the immediate launch of a homicide investigation, police did not announce any immediate arrests, and no suspects were taken into custody in the direct aftermath of the shooting, leaving the case as an open investigation for the Metro Homicide Unit.
