Kaylon Rashaad Woods Killed in Targeted Shooting by Ex-Officer Adonis Latroy Joseph; Madi Morin Injured, Suspect Found Dead After Self-Inflicted Gunshot.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – A violent and deeply personal tragedy has left the South Bend and Elkhart communities reeling after a well-known yoga instructor was shot and killed, a woman was seriously injured, and the suspected gunman—an ex-South Bend police officer—was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following a fire at his residence. The shocking chain of events, which unfolded over the course of a single harrowing day, has raised urgent questions about domestic violence, access to firearms by former law enforcement officers, and the long-term consequences of unresolved personal conflict.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Adonis Latroy Joseph, 41, of Elkhart, a former officer with the South Bend Police Department. Investigators say Joseph carried out a targeted attack on Monday afternoon before fleeing the scene, initiating a manhunt, and ultimately taking his own life as fire consumed his home.

The victims have been identified as Kaylon Rashaad Woods, 38, a respected yoga instructor at DRIP Infrared Sauna Studio, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and Madi Morin, 30, who was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries and is currently recovering. According to investigators, the shooting stemmed from a complex and volatile personal relationship: Joseph was Morin’s former partner and the father of her two young daughters, while Morin had been dating Woods at the time of the attack.

What began as a Monday afternoon inside an apartment on Links Drive ended in death for two men—one an innocent victim, the other the perpetrator—and left a young woman fighting for her life, two children without a father (Joseph), a community without a beloved instructor (Woods), and countless others struggling to make sense of an incomprehensible act of violence.

The Shooting at Highlands Apartments

Police say the violence unfolded Monday afternoon, April 27, 2026, inside an apartment at the Highlands Apartments on Links Drive in South Bend. Officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 1:50 p.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire. Neighbors later told investigators they heard what sounded like three or four rapid gunshots, followed by screaming and the sound of someone fleeing the area.

Upon entering the apartment, officers made a gruesome discovery. Kaylon Rashaad Woods, 38, lay on the floor suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. Emergency medical responders confirmed that Woods had no pulse and was not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the scene—a devastating loss for his students, colleagues, friends, and family.

Outside the building, officers located Madi Morin, 30, who had also been shot. Witnesses said Morin had attempted to flee the apartment after the shooting began but collapsed outside due to her injuries. Paramedics provided immediate trauma care before rushing her to a nearby hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. As of Wednesday, April 29, hospital officials have described her condition as “serious but stable.” She is expected to survive, though her recovery may be lengthy.

Authorities have confirmed that the shooting was not random. Based on witness statements, forensic evidence, and the relationships involved, investigators have classified the attack as targeted—driven not by chance but by a specific, personal conflict between the suspect and at least one of the victims.

The Suspect: Adonis Latroy Joseph, Former South Bend Police Officer

The man identified as the shooter, Adonis Latroy Joseph, 41, of Elkhart, was not a stranger to law enforcement—he had once been a part of it. Joseph joined the South Bend Police Department in 2011 and served for approximately seven years. According to department records, he resigned in 2018 following an Internal Affairs investigation into allegations of misconduct. Officials have not released the specific nature of the allegations, but they confirmed that Joseph had been relieved of duty during the review process prior to his resignation.

Former colleagues who worked with Joseph during his time on the force described him as a competent officer but one who sometimes struggled with personal issues. “He wasn’t a bad cop,” said one retired officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. “But he had a temper. And when things went wrong in his personal life, you could see it affecting his work. I think that’s ultimately why he left.”

After resigning from the police department, Joseph worked in private security for a time before apparently becoming estranged from his former partner, Madi Morin. Court records obtained by local news outlets indicate that Joseph and Morin had an ongoing custody dispute regarding their two daughters, both under the age of 10. Friends of Morin told investigators that Joseph had become increasingly volatile in recent months and had made threatening statements about her new relationship with Kaylon Woods.

One friend, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said: “Madi was scared. She didn’t say it outright, but you could tell. She changed her routine. She was careful about where she went. She told me Adonis had been calling her late at night, leaving voicemails that just had heavy breathing. She didn’t want to involve police because he used to be one of them, and she didn’t think anyone would believe her.”

Whether Morin ever filed a formal restraining order against Joseph remains unclear. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet commented on whether any prior domestic violence complaints had been filed.

The Manhunt and Fire at Elkhart Home

Following the double shooting at Highlands Apartments, law enforcement agencies across the area initiated a massive manhunt for Adonis Latroy Joseph. Using cell phone data, vehicle tracking, and witness tips, investigators quickly traced Joseph to a residence in the Golden Pond Trail subdivision in Elkhart County, approximately 20 miles east of South Bend.

By late Monday afternoon, a large police response—including SWAT teams, negotiators, and tactical vehicles—had converged on the quiet suburban neighborhood. Officers established a perimeter and attempted to make contact with Joseph, who was believed to be inside the home. Neighbors were evacuated or told to shelter in place.

During the standoff, which lasted several hours, a fire suddenly broke out inside the residence. Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the home as police and fire crews scrambled to respond. The Elkhart Fire Department arrived on the scene but was initially unable to enter the burning structure due to the active police tactical situation.

Once the blaze was extinguished—and after it was determined that the home was safe to enter—authorities discovered the body of Adonis Latroy Joseph inside the residence. He had sustained an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Investigators believe Joseph died by suicide either before or during the fire. They are also investigating the possibility that Joseph himself set the fire, either to destroy evidence or to force law enforcement to delay entry.

The Elkhart County Coroner’s Office has not yet released an official cause and manner of death pending autopsy results, but preliminary findings are consistent with suicide.

No other individuals were found inside the home. It is unclear whether Joseph had been living there alone.

The Victims: Kaylon Rashaad Woods, A Light in the Community

Kaylon Rashaad Woods, 38, was far more than a victim of a tragic shooting. He was a beloved figure in South Bend’s wellness community, known for his gentle spirit, his transformative yoga classes, and his ability to make every student feel seen and capable.

Woods worked as a lead instructor at DRIP Infrared Sauna Studio in South Bend, where he taught classes in hot yoga, vinyasa flow, and guided meditation. Studio owner Jasmine Carter released a heartfelt statement: “Kaylon was not just an employee; he was family. He walked into our studio two years ago looking for a place to teach, and he ended up building a community. Students would drive from Michigan, from Fort Wayne, just to take his class. He had a way of saying exactly what you needed to hear—not what you wanted to hear, but what you needed. We are devastated. We are heartbroken. And we will honor his memory by continuing to offer the kind of peace and healing he embodied.”

Friends and students have flooded social media with tributes. One former student, Lauren H., wrote: “I walked into Kaylon’s class as a total beginner, terrified and awkward. He didn’t make me feel silly. He said, ‘You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.’ I cried on my mat that day—not from frustration, but because someone finally said I was enough. Thank you, Kaylon. I will carry you with me forever.”

Another close friend, Marcus T., said: “Kaylon was the most peaceful person I knew. It is a cosmic injustice that he died by violence. He would never have hurt anyone. He only healed. He only loved. The man who killed him was everything Kaylon was not: angry, vengeful, consumed by darkness. But Kaylon’s light is not gone. It lives in all of us.”

Woods had also been involved in community outreach programs, teaching free yoga classes to at-risk youth and survivors of domestic violence. He believed deeply in the power of movement and breath to heal trauma. Ironically, that very mission may have brought him into the path of a man consumed by the kind of rage that yoga seeks to dissolve.

Madi Morin: Surviving and Recovering

Madi Morin, 30, remains hospitalized with serious injuries. Friends have described her as a devoted mother to her two young daughters—the same children she shared with her former partner, Adonis Latroy Joseph. Those children are now in the care of relatives, facing a future without their father and with a mother recovering from trauma.

Morin’s family released a brief statement: “Madi is a fighter. She has a long road ahead, both physically and emotionally, but she is surrounded by love. We ask for privacy at this time and for prayers for her continued recovery. We also ask for prayers for the family of Kaylon Woods, who lost his life in an act of senseless violence.”

It remains unclear whether Morin witnessed Woods being shot or was injured while trying to protect him. Investigators have not released details about the sequence of shots or whether Morin was shot inside the apartment or after fleeing. She has not yet been able to speak with detectives due to her medical condition, but interviews will be conducted as soon as she is able.

Law Enforcement Response and Ongoing Investigation

The South Bend Police Department, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana State Police are all involved in the ongoing investigation. Given that the suspect was a former South Bend officer, the department has recused itself from certain aspects of the case to avoid any appearance of bias, and an outside agency is reviewing the use-of-force and tactical response during the manhunt.

South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski held a press conference on Tuesday: “This is a tragedy on every level. An innocent man is dead. A woman is seriously injured. Two children have lost their father—not to death by violence he experienced, but to death by his own hand after he chose to commit an act of evil. Former officer or not, Adonis Latroy Joseph will be remembered as the perpetrator of a homicide, not as a member of our law enforcement family.”

Chief Ruszkowski also confirmed that the department is reviewing its internal processes to determine whether any red flags were missed during Joseph’s tenure or after his resignation. “If there was anything we could have done to prevent this, we need to know. We owe that to Kaylon Woods’ family.”

Domestic Violence, Guns, and Former Law Enforcement

The case has sparked broader conversations about the intersection of domestic violence, firearm access, and former law enforcement officers. While Joseph resigned from the police department in 2018, he retained the ability to possess firearms as a private citizen—unless a court order specifically prohibited it.

Indiana does not have a “red flag” law that would have allowed law enforcement to temporarily seize Joseph’s firearms based on threatening behavior. Attempts to pass such legislation have stalled in the state legislature multiple times.

“I don’t want to politicize a tragedy, but we have to ask hard questions,” said Marcia Henderson, director of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “A former police officer with a known temper, a history of misconduct, and an escalating pattern of threats against his ex-partner—should he have had access to a gun? The answer, in a sane society, is no. But our laws failed to protect Madi and Kaylon.”

What Comes Next

· Funeral for Kaylon Woods: Arrangements are pending. A public memorial service is expected to be held at DRIP Infrared Sauna Studio or a larger local venue to accommodate the many students and community members who wish to pay their respects.
· Recovery for Madi Morin: Morin remains hospitalized. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support her medical expenses and the care of her two daughters.
· Autopsy and final reports: The Elkhart County Coroner’s Office will release final autopsy results for Adonis Latroy Joseph within the coming weeks. The South Bend Police Department will release a final investigative report once all interviews and forensic analysis are complete.
· Custody of children: Relatives are caring for Joseph and Morin’s two daughters. Family court proceedings will determine long-term custody arrangements.

Final Words: Remembering the Light, Not the Violence

In the end, this is not a story about Adonis Latroy Joseph. It is a story about Kaylon Rashaad Woods—a man who taught others how to breathe, how to be present, how to heal. It is a story about Madi Morin—a woman fighting to survive, to raise her daughters, to reclaim a life interrupted by violence. It is a story about two little girls who will grow up without their father and with a mother carrying deep scars.

The South Bend and Elkhart communities are left to mourn, to reflect, and to ask how such things can happen. There are no easy answers. But there is remembrance.

Kaylon Rashaad Woods will be remembered for his peace, not his death. Madi Morin will be remembered for her strength. And perhaps—if there is any meaning to be found in such senseless loss—this tragedy will push the conversation forward, saving future lives by forcing a reckoning with the warnings we too often ignore.

Rest in peace, Kaylon. Heal well, Madi. And may the rest of us learn something that makes this loss mean something more than grief.