By Fatma Younis
A 19-year-old college cheerleader was killed and nine other people were injured in a mass shooting at an off-campus Halloween party near Illinois Wesleyan University early Sunday, authorities said Tuesday. Giana Dettloff, a freshman at North Central College in Naperville, was visiting a friend in Bloomington when gunfire erupted around 1:20 a.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made.
Victim Identified
Dettloff, originally from Carol Stream, was the only daughter of her parents and a member of the North Central College cheerleading team. McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder confirmed she died from gunshot wounds to the chest and pelvic region, with no evidence of close-range firing. Toxicology results are pending.
Shooting Details
The shooting occurred at a Halloween party near the Illinois Wesleyan University campus. Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington described the incident as a tragedy that cut short a promising young life. He urged the community to respect the family's privacy.
Injuries and Victims
Eight other people were shot, ranging in age from 16 to 22. They included students from Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State University, and Quincy University, as well as teenagers from the Chicago suburbs. A ninth person sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound discovered later, bringing the total shot to nine. Several victims were initially in critical condition but have stabilized. Authorities said many of the victims did not know each other before the shooting.
Police Investigation
Bloomington police are asking anyone with information, surveillance footage, or recordings from the area around the time of the shooting to contact Detective Pedro Diaz at 309-434-2532 or Pdiaz@cityblm.org. No suspects have been identified.
Community Tributes
North Central College President Abiódún Gòkè-Paríolá confirmed Dettloff's membership on the cheerleading team and offered condolences. Her former high school cheerleading team at Glenbard North High School remembered her as a sweet and caring soul who made a positive impact.
