BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Bloomington police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with a fatal shooting that killed a transient man last month.
Stephen Dixon II faces murder charges in the September 26 death of Shawn Sullivan, 29, who was shot near the intersection of West Howe Street and South Morton Street around 9:40 p.m.
According to police reports, Sullivan was walking westbound on Howe Street with two women when a dark-colored car sped up behind the group. Sullivan threw a bicycle at the vehicle, striking it, before a man exited the car with a gun and began yelling at Sullivan. The suspect fired one round, striking Sullivan in his left side, before getting back into the vehicle and speeding away.
Sullivan was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:28 p.m.
Investigators canvassed the area for surveillance footage and discovered video from a gas station showing a dark-colored Volkswagen on the night of the shooting. A white male and female purchased items just minutes before the shooting occurred.
The vehicle matched the description of a car involved in an unrelated shooting four days earlier on September 22 in the 1600 block of North Willis Drive, where someone fired a round from the passenger window toward a residence before speeding away.
Security cameras captured the license plate, which was registered to 30-year-old Bloomington resident Kaila Simms.
After receiving tips identifying Dixon as the shooter, police located the suspect vehicle. Dixon and Simms were arrested at a gas station in Bedford. Dixon was armed with a loaded 9mm Hi-Point handgun at the time of his arrest.
Dixon has been charged with murder, two counts of unlawful carrying of a handgun, and criminal recklessness. Simms faces a charge of neglect of a dependent.
Both suspects are being held at the Monroe County Jail.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bloomington Police Department.
