It was a quiet Monday afternoon in South Bend until everything changed in a matter of minutes. Police say 38-year-old Kaylon Rashaad Woods was shot and killed inside an apartment on Links Drive, turning a familiar neighborhood into a scene of grief and disbelief.
Officers were called to the Highlands Apartments around 1:50 p.m. When they arrived, they found a woman, 30-year-old Madi Morin, outside the building suffering from a gunshot wound. Inside the apartment, Woods was already dead. Emergency crews rushed Morin to the hospital, where she is now recovering from serious injuries.
Investigators quickly identified the suspect as 41-year-old Adonis Latroy Joseph, a former South Bend police officer. Authorities say Joseph had a past relationship with Morin and is the father of her two daughters. At the time of the shooting, Morin and Woods were reportedly dating, a detail that has shaped what investigators believe may have been a targeted act driven by personal conflict.
Woods was not just another name in a police report. He was widely known in the community as a yoga instructor at DRIP Infrared. Friends and students describe him as a steady presence, someone who showed up for people when it mattered most. Tributes have poured in, painting a picture of a man who lived with purpose and gave his energy to others.
In one emotional message, members of his yoga community described him as the soul and fire that lifted those around him. They spoke of a father, a mentor, and a friend who would go out of his way, even after long days, just to be there for people who needed him.
After the shooting, law enforcement tracked Joseph to a home on Golden Pond Trail in Elkhart County. By late afternoon, SWAT teams had surrounded the residence. Around the same time, a fire broke out inside the home, drawing both police and firefighters to the scene. Once the flames were put out, Joseph was found dead inside with what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials later confirmed that Joseph had joined the South Bend Police Department in 2011 but resigned in early 2018 following an internal investigation. As the community processes what happened, support has begun to gather around Morin and her children, with fundraising efforts launched to help cover medical bills and recovery costs. Authorities say the investigation is still ongoing, but there is no threat to the public.
Images tied to this story include the Highlands Apartments where the shooting happened, the Golden Pond Trail home after the fire, and personal photos of Kaylon Woods shared by his yoga community, showing him teaching and smiling among students.
