IUPD questions suspect after shooting

The suspect who is in custody from the Sunday morning shooting at the 1400 block of North Jordan Avenue was apprehended by authorities and questioned Sunday, IU Police Chief Keith Cash said.

Jeffery Durbin of Kokomo, who is not an IU student, was arrested on charges of intimidation, criminal recklessness, pointing a firearm and carrying a handgun without a license.

At 2:57 a.m., officers responded to a report of a man firing a weapon in the air outside the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house.

“This male, not a house member, was waiting on a ride,” Cash said in a prepared statement. “He became irritated while waiting and pulled out a gun, pointing it at a fraternity member. He then began to wave the gun in the air.”

Cash said the incident started at the conclusion of a fraternity Halloween party as visitors were leaving the house. He said while the fraternity members were fleeing back inside the house, they heard gunfire.

“Immediately, IUPD, along with the Bloomington Police Department, set up a perimeter from Fee Lane to the 45/46 bypass,” Cash said in the statement.

The male was seen walking up the driveway of the Phi Kappa Sigma house. Officers at the perimeter noticed the suspect attempting to enter the house of sorority Phi Mu.

Authorities arrested the suspect,and there were no injuries.

Shortly after the arrest, the weapon was recovered nearby, Cash said.

“The investigation continues,” Cash said.

IU students and parents registered to receive alerts from the IU-Notify system received a string of text messages, emails and automated phone calls to draw attention to the campus shooting in the early-morning hours.  

“It’s scary to think that would happen so close to here. It just seems like a lot of things are piling up,” junior Emma Rimmele said. “It was good that it was contained really fast. I think that it handled it pretty well.”

She said she received a call from her mother, who was concerned and asked her for more information.

“(My parents) actually called me this morning. They were really freaked out about it,” Rimmele said. “They’re nervous, but I told them everything is fine. I guess I feel a little better about everything just to know that nobody was injured. It’s still scary nonetheless.”

Although students expressed positive feedback as to how the University kept the campus informed, some questioned the wording of the messages.

“I got a phone call, and I did get an email. I called my mom this morning,” student Maddie Rossman said. “I do, however, think that the text message or the wording of the email was a little too strong.”

Freshman Aubree Craft said she felt fairly safe throughout the ordeal.

“I was actually inside Read (Center) at the time. I stayed where I was. The door was locked. The windows were shut. I was fine,” Craft said.

Craft’s mother Janine Vergis, who was at IU visiting her daughter this weekend, said it’s important for students to communicate with their parents when situations like this arise on campus.

“I think she needs to notify me when something happens,” she said. “If I would’ve had the radio on or the television and heard about it, I would’ve been freaked out. It’s going to happen. It could happen anywhere.”