Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include the most up-to-date fundraising total as of Oct. 3, 2025.
On Friday, Sept. 26, Robert “Bobby” Ballard, a homeless man in the downtown Bloomington community, was assaulted during a physical altercation with several men on Kirkwood Avenue, losing several teeth. According to a Bloomington Police Department news release, Ballard said he got into a verbal argument with a few men who he believed stole his cell phone. BPD Public Information Officer Capt. Ryan Pedigo says he believes the argument, which escalated from “a verbal altercation to a physical altercation,” involved at least six people.
A fundraiser to cover the medical expenses of a man who was assaulted on Kirkwood Avenue has raised more than $9,700 in a matter of days. As of Friday, Oct. 3, the GoFundMe is not accepting further donations.
“He got battered badly,” Pedigo told the Herald-Times.
Two men, Avery Williams, 25, and Khalil Morris, 21, have been arrested on charges of battery resulting in serious bodily injury. The two men do not appear to be students at IU Bloomington.
“A huge impact”: Community rallies in response to assault
Ballard’s assault gained viral friction in Bloomington. Videos of the attack were circulated on Reddit and other social media platforms, and a video from the Bloomingtonian speaking to Ballard on the day after the assault has garnered more than 1,000 views.
A GoFundMe created on Sunday, Sept. 28 to support Ballard’s medical needs following the assault — particularly, those of dental surgery and prosthetics — has raised close to $10,000 in three days, and the initial fundraising goal of $9,000 has since been raised to $11,000. The fundraiser organizer said that, “Every donation, no matter the amount, will go directly to Bobby for his treatment.”
In a Sept. 30 update shared on the fundraiser webpage, the organizer said the donations are giving Ballard “hope and confidence after such a tough experience.”
“There’s also been some encouraging progress behind the scenes in the aftermath of the attack, showing that your support is making a difference in more ways than one,” the message said. “Bobby still has a journey ahead, but your generosity is helping him move forward every step of the way.”
Reach Brian Rosenzweig at brian@heraldt.com. Follow him on X/Twitter at @brianwritesnews.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington community raises thousands for homeless man attacked on Kirkwood
Reporting by Brian Rosenzweig, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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