UPDATE (6/27/2023): Victor Pilot-Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder, a Level 1 felony. He was sentenced to roughly 18 years in prison.
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A 21-year-old man was shot multiple times in Bloomington Tuesday after the shooter approached him in a drive-thru, according to the Bloomington Police Department.
At about 5:30 p.m., police were called to the 3400 block of West 3rd Street in response to a 911 call of a person shot.
According to BPD, two men — including the 21-year-old — were sitting in a vehicle in the drive-thru of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. A suspect approached the vehicle on foot, and the two men exited the vehicle through the front passenger door and tried to run southbound in the parking lot.
Police say the suspect followed and began shooting at the 21-year-old as he ran, hitting him multiple times. At some point during the altercation, the suspect reportedly dropped the handgun, and the other man that had been inside the vehicle with the 21-year-old picked it up, according to BPD. That man then reportedly fired the handgun at the suspect as the suspect ran, but the suspect was not hit.
The man then loaded the 21-year-old into the car and drove away from the scene with the 21-year-old while calling 911. He took the 21-year-old to a residence on South Curry Pike, and an ambulance took him to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where he was taken into emergency surgery. His condition is unknown.
Police found the suspect inside a dumpster behind a strip mall in the 3400 block of West 3rd Street and took him into custody without further incident. It took officers less than 10 minutes from the first 911 call to find and arrest the suspect. Detectives credit witnesses on scene for the quick arrest.
“It’s invaluable or else we wouldn’t have known exactly where he ran and we certainly wouldn’t have been able to locate him as quickly as we did. In situations like this, we ask people please take cover, make sure you’re safe, don’t try to be a hero, and be a good witness,” Ryan Pedigo, captain with the Bloomington Police Department.
Police later identified the suspect as 29-year-old Victor Pilot-Coleman. He is preliminarily charged with attempted murder, criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm.