19-Year-Old Cheerleader Killed in Bloomington Halloween Party Shooting

At least nine people were shot during a Halloween party in Bloomington, Illinois, early Sunday morning, killing one 19-year-old student. The incident occurred around 1:23 a.m. in the 100 block of East Division Street, near the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.

Giana Dettloff, a cheerleader at North Central College in Naperville, died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and pelvic region. McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder stated that there was no evidence of close-range firing and that toxicology testing is pending. Dettloff was visiting a friend when the shooting began.

Police reported that officers were patrolling the area and responding to a separate call nearby when they heard the shots. Chief of Police Jamal Simington said the party appeared peaceful and jovial before the violence started. He noted that there were no disturbances witnessed or reported prior to the event.

Eight other individuals sustained injuries, including a 19-year-old male Illinois Wesleyan student from Plano and an 18-year-old female student from Carol Stream. Both are listed in stable condition. A 19-year-old female student from Illinois State University suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle and is also stable. Another 19-year-old female Illinois State student from Hoffman Estates was treated and released the morning of the shooting.

A 19-year-old female Quincy University student from Woodridge sustained injuries to her chest, arm, and abdomen. Her condition improved from critical to stable. A 22-year-old male from Bloomington is in stable condition, as is an 18-year-old female from Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream. A 16-year-old female from Bloomington High School suffered a graze wound to an extremity and was released after treatment.

As of Monday afternoon, no one was in custody. Simington said investigators would identify those responsible and bring them forward for justice. North Central College President Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá confirmed Dettloff’s place on the cheerleading team and encouraged the community to use campus resources for support. The Glenbard High School District described the shooting as tragic and expressed deep sadness over the impact on the community.

The Dettloff family has requested privacy during this time. Yoder noted that Dettloff was her parents' only daughter. Simington described her as full of life and an athlete with a bright future, adding that he witnessed the heartbreak of her family when they learned of her death.