ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. — Authorities have identified 28-year-old Dakota Barnes as the victim of a deadly shooting that occurred late last week along County Road 16. The Elkhart County Coroner has ruled her death a homicide, confirming the violent nature of the incident that has left the community shaken.
The shooting took place Friday morning outside a residence in the 29000 block of County Road 16. According to early reports, Barnes was shot multiple times by a man who then turned the gun on himself. The suspect suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Officials have not released his identity or outlined the relationship between him and Barnes.
Investigators believe the shooting was a domestic or targeted act of violence, based on the immediate chain of events. The Coroner’s findings reinforce that conclusion, marking Barnes’s death as a deliberate and unlawful killing.
The news has sent shockwaves through Elkhart County, where friends, family, and neighbors are mourning the sudden and brutal loss of a young woman whose life ended far too soon. The tragedy underscores the ongoing toll of interpersonal violence within the community.
The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department is continuing a comprehensive investigation. Detectives are working to determine what led to the shooting, reconstruct the timeline, document the sequence of gunfire, and gather forensic and digital evidence from the scene. Progress may be slowed as the suspect remains hospitalized, but investigators say they are pursuing every available lead, including interviews with witnesses and community members.
Officials emphasize their commitment to bringing clarity and answers to the Barnes family as they navigate this heartbreaking loss.
As the investigation moves forward, the Elkhart County community stands united in grief, mourning the life of Dakota Barnes and hoping for justice and understanding in the wake of her tragic death.