BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Bloomington police apprehended a homeless man who was discovered sleeping in a van after allegedly shooting and killing another man. The 56-year-old transient suspect, Scott A. Cooper, was taken into custody by Bloomington Police Department officers on Tuesday morning following a report of a deceased individual. Cooper faces preliminary charges of murder.
Authorities responded to a call at approximately 6:20 a.m. regarding a man lying motionless in a parking lot in the 2100 block of S. Liberty Drive. Upon arrival, officers found the man with a gunshot wound to his chest, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives uncovered a van with a bullet hole in its windshield near the area where the body was discovered, leading them to find Cooper asleep in another nearby van.
Following a brief conversation with Cooper, officers detained him and transported him to the police headquarters for questioning. Search warrants were obtained, leading to the removal of both vans from the scene. Inside the van where Cooper was found, authorities reportedly found a loaded .380 caliber handgun.
Cooper was subsequently interviewed by BPD investigators before being taken to the Monroe County Jail and charged with felony murder. An autopsy for the deceased individual was scheduled as authorities worked to notify the next of kin. Further details were not immediately available.
The incident remains under investigation as law enforcement continues to gather evidence and collaborate with relevant parties. The motive behind the shooting and any potential connection between the suspect and the victim is yet to be disclosed. Community members are urged to come forward with any information that may assist in the ongoing investigation.