Bloomington, Indiana – A homeless man has been arrested by Bloomington police for murder after being discovered sleeping in a van near a deceased individual. On Tuesday morning, officers from the Bloomington Police Department took Scott A. Cooper, a 56-year-old transient man, into custody in connection with a shooting death, charging him with murder.
Reports indicate that officers responded to a call about an unconscious person in a parking lot on S. Liberty Drive around 6:20 a.m. Upon arrival, they found a man who had been shot in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives conducting a search near the location of the body spotted a van with a bullet hole through the windshield, and inside another nearby van, they found Cooper sleeping.
Following a brief conversation with the suspect, officers apprehended Cooper and transported him to headquarters for questioning. Both vans, one with the bullet hole and the one where Cooper had been resting, were towed from the site after investigators obtained search warrants. Inside the van where Cooper had been found, officers discovered a loaded .380 caliber handgun.
Cooper was interviewed by investigators before being taken to the Monroe County Jail and charged with felony murder. Authorities have arranged for an autopsy to be conducted on the deceased individual as they reach out to next of kin. No further details have been released at this time.
The arrest of the homeless man in connection with the murder case has rattled the community in Bloomington, with residents expressing shock and concern over the incident. The quick response and investigative efforts of the Bloomington Police Department have been praised, highlighting the dedication of law enforcement in addressing violent crimes. As the case progresses through legal proceedings, the community awaits further updates on the investigation.