In the winter of 2018, the community of South Bend, Indiana, was shaken by the tragic death of 25-year-old Theodore V. 'Teddy' Braun. On the night of Friday, December 14, 2018, Braun was at the American Legion Post 284 on Grant Street when he was fatally shot. An autopsy later confirmed that a single gunshot wound to the chest was the cause of his death, which was officially ruled a homicide.
The events of that evening unfolded quickly.
Police were dispatched to the American Legion post shortly after 11:40 p.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered a chaotic scene where bystanders had already taken action, detaining the man suspected of the shooting. Others were attempting to provide first aid to Braun, but his injuries were too severe, and he succumbed to them before he could be transported to a hospital. At the scene, law enforcement recovered a semiautomatic handgun.
The suspect, identified as 60-year-old Bruce Bennett, was taken into custody at the scene. Just three days after the fatal shooting, on December 17, 2018, Bennett was formally charged with the murder of Theodore Braun. Following the legal proceedings, a jury found Bruce Bennett guilty of murder in February 2020. In March of the same year, he was sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison. The sentence consisted of 45 years for the murder charge, with an additional five years for a firearm sentencing enhancement, with the terms to be served consecutively.
Theodore Braun, known affectionately as 'Teddy,' was born in South Bend on January 19, 1993. He was an employee at Patterson Dental and served as the SAL Vice Commander at the American Legion #284, the very place where his life was cut short. He was also a local DJ known as 'Teddy B' and was remembered for his love of fishing, kayaking, and karaoke. His funeral services were held on December 21, 2018, and he was laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery. In a touching tribute, friends and family requested that attendees of his services bring teddy bears to be donated to children's hospitals in the area.
