BLOOMINGTON — An 18-year-old Bloomington man is behind bars following a chaotic shooting incident on East Kirkwood Avenue that left multiple people injured last month.
Lewis James May was taken into custody without incident on May 5, 2026, after Bloomington Police Department (BPD) investigators identified him through a flurry of tips from the public.
The incident unfolded around 12:25 a.m. on April 26, 2026, as officers were monitoring a large crowd in the 400 block of East Kirkwood Avenue. After hearing multiple gunshots, officers converged on the scene and discovered several wounded individuals.
Through a review of cell phone and business surveillance footage, investigators determined that a physical altercation between two women had broken out near the Five Guys restaurant. One of the participants, a 20-year-old Indiana University student, later told detectives the fight began after someone threw water on her.
Video evidence reportedly shows a man waving a handgun at the crowd surrounding the women. As the man confronted one of the participants, he allegedly discharged a round into the sidewalk near the entrance to Five Guys, causing the crowd to scatter.
On April 30, BPD released still images of the suspect to the media. Within an hour, multiple callers identified the man as Lewis James May.
Investigators tracked May to a residence in the 1600 block of South Dorchester Drive. After observing May leave the home on the evening of May 5, officers moved in and arrested him as he exited his vehicle at a downtown restaurant.
A subsequent search of May’s residence yielded a Taurus 9mm handgun and a distinct shark-shaped backpack, both of which were confiscated as evidence.
May was remanded to the Monroe County Jail on several felony charges, including:
- Two counts of battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felonies)
- Two counts of criminal recklessness (Level 5 Felonies)
- Pointing a Firearm (Level 6 Felony)
Police now believe the violence on East Kirkwood Avenue involved two separate, nearly simultaneous incidents. While May is connected to the shooting at Five Guys that injured two women, investigators are still looking for answers regarding a second shooting that occurred moments later in front of Chipotle at 420 East Kirkwood Avenue. That second incident is believed to have injured at least three additional women.
It remains unclear if the two shootings are connected. Investigators are asking anyone with video or information regarding the shooting near Chipotle to contact Detective Chris Scott at 812-339-4477.
Under Indiana law, criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
