A midday shooting in South Bend left 37-year-old Brien E. Franklin Jr. dead on October 28, 2025. Police responded to reports of shots fired in the 500 block of West Colfax Avenue and found Franklin with a fatal gunshot wound; he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The South Bend Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is treating the incident as a homicide.

Detectives say they are working to determine a motive and identify any suspects; no arrests have been announced and police have not released suspect descriptions. Brien Franklin Jr. was born in South Bend on July 7, 1988. His family remembers him as a devoted father of four who loved working with his hands, especially on cars, and as a creative, strong presence for his mother, grandmother, and his twin brother.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Michiana Crime Stoppers with anonymous tips.