Man shot on Liberty Drive

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Bloomington police have arrested a homeless man who they say shot a man through the windshield before sleeping in his van overnight.

Scott A. Cooper, a 56-year-old transient, was arrested Tuesday morning by Bloomington Police Department officers after he was called to examine a body. BPD said Cooper has been tentatively charged with murder.

BPD said officers were called to a parking lot in the 2100 block of S. Liberty Drive around 6:20 a.m. because a man was lying in the parking lot and was presumed dead. The caller said she arrived at work and saw the man lying on the floor, not moving.

When officers arrived, they found a man who was pronounced dead at the scene. BPD said the man had a gunshot wound to the chest.

Investigators began searching the area near where the man’s body was found and soon found a van parked nearby with what appeared to be a bullet hole in the windshield. Inside they found a man sleeping.

The man, later identified as Cooper, was asked to get out of the van. BPD said after officers spoke briefly with the suspect, he was arrested and taken to headquarters for questioning.

BPD said two vans, including the one with the bullet hole, were later towed from the scene after investigators obtained search warrants. Additionally, officers reportedly found a loaded .380 caliber handgun in the 2006 Chrysler Town & Country where Cooper was located.

After being interviewed by BPD detectives, Cooper was taken to the Monroe County Jail and charged with murder.

Authorities said an autopsy was planned for the dead man while officials tried to contact next of kin. No further information was initially provided.