Two people suffered injuries, including a police officer struck by shrapnel or a ricochet, during a Saturday evening fight near the University of Notre Dame campus at Eddy Street Commons. The incident prompted a temporary shelter-in-place order as authorities searched for a heavy-set male suspect during Notre Dame’s football game against Michigan State.
Eddy Street Commons Incident and Campus Shelter-in-Place Order
A fight broke out near Eddy Street and Angela Boulevard on Saturday, September 19, just after 7:30 p.m., according to local police officials. The confrontation occurred as crowds moved toward Eddy Street Commons after tailgating activities were shut down at the University of Notre Dame. During the altercation, a shot was fired, law enforcement confirmed.
The university issued an emergency text alert at 7:59 p.m. notifying individuals on campus that shots had been fired in the Eddy Street Commons area, with the suspected gunman last seen along the southern edge of campus. People inside Notre Dame Stadium were instructed to remain inside the venue, while others elsewhere on campus were told to shelter in place, as tens of thousands of fans gathered for the athletic event against Michigan State University.
The South Bend Police Department also shared a Facebook post shortly after 8 p.m. advising the public to avoid the area around Eddy Street Commons. People were moved out of Eddy Street Commons, and parking garages and businesses were cleared as the investigation unfolded.
Injuries Reported and Police Investigation Status
Two people sustained gunshot injuries during the altercation, including a woman and a police officer who was hit by either shrapnel or a ricochet. Both victims were transported to a hospital and are expected to be OK. Police noted that another person was injured during the incident, but not by gunfire, with officials indicating the injury probably happened during the fight.
Authorities described the fleeing suspect as a Black male, heavy-set, blue shorts, black shirt and one white shoe,
according to the ND Alert sent out via text at 7:59 p.m. Saturday. Notre Dame officials subsequently confirmed that there is no continued threat to campus, and a temporary shelter-in-place order has been lifted, while the Eddy Street Commons area remains closed as investigators collect information from the scene.
Impact on the Fighting Irish and Spartans Football Game
The security incident did not affect the game as No. 3 Notre Dame and Michigan State squared off in the Battle for the Megaphone. The matchup marked the first time since 2017 that the Fighting Irish and Spartans (2-0) met in a rivalry that once was a featured annual attraction because of its national championship implications.
New Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald expressed his desire to keep the historic matchup on future schedules, stating, “Not to play this game every year, it just stinks, I think for both fan bases and both teams. It’s one of the great, storied traditions and rivalries in college football. Scheduling is a pain in the neck for everybody, but it’s always great to have your rivalry games on the schedule.” Irish coach Marcus Freeman has also said publicly he prefers to keep rivalry games on the schedule, though Notre Dame’s five-game tie-in to the ACC has made scheduling more difficult.
At 8:22 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, another text alert was sent to the campus community stating, There have been no further incidents of violence. Further investigations indicate that the suspect fled the campus area. Police investigations continue.