A Sunday afternoon in South Bend’s River Park neighborhood ended in gunfire, and now a 47-year-old man is sitting in the St. Joseph County Jail.
Police say Alfonso Escobedo Prieto was arrested on June 23 in connection with a shooting that happened two days earlier near Mishawaka Avenue and 29th Street. Officers responded to reports of shots fired on June 21, found a man with an apparent gunshot wound, and had him taken to a hospital for treatment. Prieto is currently being held in county custody, according to police.
The South Bend Police Department later posted an update identifying Prieto and noting that the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office filed a charge of battery by means of a deadly weapon. The post reiterates that the victim was transported to a hospital and that Prieto was booked into the county jail.
Charges and custody
According to WNDU, investigators identified Prieto as a suspect in the River Park shooting and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office charged him with battery by means of a deadly weapon. WNDU reports that Prieto was booked into the St. Joseph County Jail and remains in custody.
Legal implications
Battery by means of a deadly weapon is prosecuted under Indiana law as a felony. Statute summaries and court decisions describe the offense as a Level 5 felony when a deadly weapon is involved, per Indiana statute summaries and court decisions. Sentencing can vary, depending on the severity of the injury, a defendant’s prior record, and whether prosecutors seek elevated charges.
River Park and local context
River Park is a primarily residential pocket of South Bend that has seen its share of gun-related incidents in recent years. Coverage of a separate deadly 2023 shooting in the same area, and subsequent arrests, is documented in WNDU archives. Those reports show detectives have already run major investigations in River Park, and they often stress the need for neighbors to share tips. Community leaders have likewise called for more witness cooperation to help solve violent crimes.
What’s next
Prieto’s arraignment date has not yet been posted publicly. Under Indiana procedure, prosecutors are expected to present the charge at an initial hearing, and Prieto is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted in court.
Anyone with information about the June 21 shooting is encouraged to contact the South Bend Police Department, according to the department’s South Bend Police Department post.
