Shawn Allen Sullivan dies in fatal Bloomington shooting.
Fatal Bloomington shooting death of Shawn Allen Sullivan.
On September 29th, 2025, the Monroe County Coroner’s Office officially confirmed that the individual killed following a disturbance in Bloomington was 29-year-old Shawn Allen Sullivan. The office stated that final determinations regarding the exact cause and classification of his death were still pending the release of results from the ongoing autopsy and required toxicology tests.
A source connected to Sullivan, identified as his godfather, provided details to The Bloomingtonian newspaper on September 28th. He revealed that he had taken on a caregiving role for Sullivan since the passing of his mother, and he confirmed that Sullivan was without a permanent home at the time of his death. The godfather also mentioned that Sullivan had experienced time within the foster care system previously.
In an effort to cover Sullivan’s final expenses, his sister Shannon Sullivan from Solsberry initiated a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe. She shared her profound grief, expressing her desperation to honor his memory with a proper funeral or cremation service after describing the event as a pointless tragedy. Shannon emphasized that her brother was an inherently kind person who faced an undeserved fate and expressed confidence that justice would be pursued. As of September 29th, the online fundraiser had surpassed $1,340, gathered from 19 individual contributors, aiming to reach a $2,400 target to cover the necessary costs.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/shawn-allen-sullivan
The Bloomington Police Department reported receiving emergency dispatches around 9:40 p.m. on the night of the incident. These reports indicated audible distress calls of screaming individuals combined with the sound of gunfire in the vicinity of the intersection between West Howe Street and South Morton Street. Upon their arrival at the scene, officers discovered Sullivan suffering from a serious injury resulting from a gunshot wound to his upper torso, specifically the left side. While on the scene, police personnel attempted all possible life-saving actions until emergency medical services arrived, including support from the Bloomington Fire Department and personnel from the IU Health ambulance service. Despite these efforts, Sullivan was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where medical professionals pronounced his death at 10:28 p.m. that same evening.
Preliminary statements from law enforcement indicated that the fatal shooting stemmed from a confrontation between Sullivan and the operator of a nearby passenger automobile. According to available reports from witnesses, the altercation concluded with the car’s driver exiting their vehicle, firing one shot, before retreating to a dark sedan. This suspect vehicle then turned westbound on Howe Street and later crossed over onto Madison Street to continue their escape route. Eyewitnesses further reported hearing a female voice screaming inside the suspect vehicle as it quickly departed the area.
According to the current stage of the investigation, authorities have indicated they believe Sullivan and the individual responsible for the shooting likely did not have a prior relationship. Bloomington Police are actively encouraging members of the local community, especially those residing nearby, to contribute any available surveillance footage from their properties or devices that might capture the suspect’s vehicle entering or leaving the neighborhood during the relevant time frame. This information could be critical to identifying and apprehending those responsible.
Individuals who might possess any additional information or leads regarding the incident are strongly urged to contact Detective Chris Scott with the Bloomington Police Department. The contact number for this purpose is (812) 339-4477. The department has confirmed that their ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sullivan’s death is still in its active phase, and they continue to seek public assistance in bringing closure to this tragic event.
