Shooting at downtown South Bend parking garage leaves security guard dead

SOUTH BEND — The man who was shot and killed Sunday night in a downtown South Bend parking garage was a security guard, police say.

Robert Pulliam, Jr., 62, worked for a company that contracted with the city, and he "observed a suspicious person and activity" in the parking garage in the moments before he was killed. According to the South Bend Police Department, Pulliam confronted the person, who then shot the security guard.

South Bend police did not say what caused Pulliam to investigate the "suspicious person."

The parking garage, which sits on the corner of Wayne Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, remains closed as of early Monday afternoon as police continue to investigate the shooting. Officials urge those who normally park in the garage to use the lot at the Century Center instead.

In a written statement, South Bend Mayor James Mueller called Pulliam's death "senseless" and urged for a stop to gun violence in the community.

“Last night's senseless loss of life serves as a stark reminder of the dangers facing our sworn officers and those charged with keeping us safe each day. I am grateful for Robert Pulliam, Jr.'s service to our city and will keep his family and loved ones in my prayers as they mourn this tragic loss," the statement read. "As our Violent Crimes Unit continues its investigation, we must join together as a community to stop gun violence and prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands.”

South Bend police report the shooting took place a little after 11:20 p.m. Sunday. Officers arrived at the scene following a report of shots being fired to find a man with gunshot wounds. The man, identified as Pulliam, was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy for Pulliam is scheduled for Tuesday in Kalamazoo.

According to scanner traffic from the incident, a person called police from the stairwell on the second floor of the building about the shooting victim and officers found the man suffering from gunshot wounds as soon as they arrived.

The South Bend Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit is investigating the homicide and officials ask anyone with information to call the detective bureau at 574-235-9263 or Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Guard killed in shooting at downtown South Bend parking garage