Bloomington police investigate shooting after wounded man stumbles out of woods to Wheeler Mission

Lewis Robert Siegrist booking photo

Update:

The Bloomington Police Department arrested 49-year-old Lewis Robert Siegrist, who is unhoused according to police, after he shot a 42-year-old man in the 1500 block of West Kirkwood, Tuesday, according to Bloomington Police Department Captain Ryan Pedigo.

Police tracked the suspect, who was armed with a 9mm handgun, to a residence in Spencer, Indiana, where he fled after the shooting, and arrested him later at a convenience store early Wednesday.

The shooting victim was taken to a Bloomington hospital and is in stable condition after being shot in the abdomen.

More details about the incident are in the following press release from the Bloomington Police Department:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


December 28, 2022
For more information, please contact:
Captain Ryan Pedigo
Bloomington Police Department
(812)349-3324
[email protected]

Bloomington Police Investigate Shooting

On December 27, 2022, at approximately 5:20 p.m., officers with the Bloomington Police
Department responded to the 1500 block of W Kirkwood Avenue in reference to a
possible shooting. A caller reported that they had heard what they believed to be a single
gunshot followed by a man yelling that he had been shot. Responding officers located a
42 year-old man with a gunshot wound to his upper torso in the 200 block of S Westplex
Avenue near Wheeler Mission. The victim was transported to an area hospital by
ambulance for treatment, where he was reported to be in stable condition.
Investigators were able to determine that the man had been shot in the backyard of a
residence in the 1500 block of W Kirkwood Avenue. The victim had then walked through
a wooded area towards Westplex Avenue, where he had been located by officers. It was
reported that the victim had been arguing with a woman in the backyard of the residence
when a man approached him and shot him with a handgun. The victim reported that he
attempted to contact 911, but the suspect stole his cellphone, so he began walking toward
Westplex Avenue. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate anyone matching
the description of the suspect.
As the investigation continued, detectives were able to identify the suspect as Lewis
Robert Siegrist (49, transient). Further, it was determined that Siegrist had fled from
Bloomington and was believed to be at a residence in Spencer, Indiana. Detectives
traveled to Spencer, where they begin surveilling the residence. At approximately 1:40

2

a.m. on December 28, 2022, Siegrist was arrested without incident at the Speedway gas
station in the 700 block of W Morgan Street in Spencer. At the time of his arrest, he was
armed with a 9mm handgun.
Siegrist was transported to the Bloomington Police Department for an interview. Once
the interview was complete, Lewis Robert Siegrist was transported to the Monroe County
Jail and remanded for the following charges:


Attempted Murder, level 1 felony

Robbery While Armed with a Deadly Weapon, level 2 felony

Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, level 4 felony

Criminal Recklessness, level 6 felony

Pointing a Firearm, level 6 felony


Siegrist also had an active arrest warrant for the charge of Possession of
Methamphetamine, level 6 felony.

#

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – DECEMBER 27: Members of the Bloomington Police Department investigate a shooting on December 27, 2022, in Bloomington, Indiana. Police were trying to figure out exactly where the shooting took place, but a wounded man stumbled out of the woods to a nearby homeless shelter seeking medical assistance. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – DECEMBER 27: Members of the Bloomington Police Department investigate a shooting on December 27, 2022, in Bloomington, Indiana. Police were trying to figure out exactly where the shooting took place, but a wounded man stumbled out of the woods to a nearby homeless shelter seeking medical assistance. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

Earlier story:

Bloomington Police are investigating a shooting on the west side of Bloomington Tuesday night. It’s unclear where exactly the shooting took place, but police were responding to the scene between 5 and 6 p.m.

A wounded man came stumbling out of the woods to seek medical assistance at the Wheeler Mission, in the 200 block of South Westplex Avenue, according to a witness who spoke to The Bloomingtonian.

Police responding to the scene were told a man had screamed, “Oh my god, you shot me.” It was reported a gun went off in a camp for unhoused residents before the man yelled, he was shot. But the location where the shooting actually took place was unclear.

Police were searching neighborhoods in the vicinity of a trailer park in the 1500 block of West Kirkwood. Police were seen driving slowly up and down West 8th Street with bright searchlights.

Law enforcement vehicles were later parked at the trailer park in the 1500 block of West Kirkwood, and near the woods at 200 South Westplex to investigate. Two police officers used flashlights to search the woods and a snow-covered parking lot. One officer had a brown evidence bag, which they placed in the trunk of a police cruiser.

Scanner traffic indicated the victim has a gunshot wound to the arm, but the Bloomingtonian was unable to verify the information.

The Bloomingtonian was not able to speak to any police officials since all media inquiries need to go through official sources at the Bloomington Police Department. Sometimes a shift supervisor is at the scene to speak to the media. The police need time to investigate and determine the location and details of the incident, but when more information is available, it will be reported.

If the Bloomington Police issues a statement before tomorrow’s media briefing at 11 a.m., this story will be updated sooner than tomorrow, when more official information might be available.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was assisting the Bloomington Police to look for a suspect who fled the scene.

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – DECEMBER 27: Members of the Bloomington Police Department investigate a shooting on December 27, 2022, in Bloomington, Indiana. Police were trying to figure out exactly where the shooting took place, but a wounded man stumbled out of the woods to a nearby homeless shelter seeking medical assistance. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – DECEMBER 27: Members of the Bloomington Police Department investigate a shooting on December 27, 2022, in Bloomington, Indiana. Police were trying to figure out exactly where the shooting took place, but a wounded man stumbled out of the woods to a nearby homeless shelter seeking medical assistance. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – DECEMBER 27: Members of the Bloomington Police Department investigate a shooting on December 27, 2022, in Bloomington, Indiana. Police were trying to figure out exactly where the shooting took place, but a wounded man stumbled out of the woods to a nearby homeless shelter seeking medical assistance. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – DECEMBER 27: Members of the Bloomington Police Department investigate a shooting on December 27, 2022, in Bloomington, Indiana. Police were trying to figure out exactly where the shooting took place, but a wounded man stumbled out of the woods to a nearby homeless shelter seeking medical assistance. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

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