Giana Dettloff’s former high school cheer squad broke its silence Monday with a public tribute to the 19-year-old killed in a Halloween mass shooting.
“We are absolutely heartbroken about the tragic death of Giana Dettloff,” the team posted on Instagram alongside a carousel of photos. “Giana was not only a sweet and caring soul, but she also had [a] massive positive influence on our community.”
The post from her former teammates landed two days after Dettloff, a freshman cheerleader at North Central College outside Chicago, was gunned down at an off-campus party roughly two hours from her school. Bloomington police found her dead at the scene near Illinois Wesleyan University at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
A preliminary autopsy showed Dettloff, an only child, had been shot multiple times in the chest and pelvis. Eight others between ages 16 and 22 also sustained gunshot wounds in the barrage. Among the injured: a 22-year-old man wounded in the arm and abdomen, a 19-year-old man shot in the arm, an 18-year-old woman hit in the leg, a 16-year-old girl struck in the arm, plus three other young women ages 18 and 19 who suffered leg and ankle wounds.
No suspects had been arrested as of the latest statements from investigators.
Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington addressed the killing in a statement posted to Facebook, framing the loss in stark parental terms.
“For a parent, sending a child off to college is filled with pride, hope, and excitement for the journey ahead,” he wrote. “To have that journey cut short in such a tragic way is a parent’s worst nightmare.”
Simington continued, “Our hearts are with Giana’s family, friends, and everyone impacted by this tragedy.”
The chief also urged restraint around the grieving relatives. “We also ask our community to keep Giana’s loved ones in their thoughts and respect their privacy as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”
Dettloff’s own family had described her as “full of life, a sweet girl with a very bright future.” That characterization echoed across multiple tributes from institutions tied to her brief 19 years.
North Central College, the small school outside Chicago where Dettloff had joined the cheerleading roster, posted its own memorial on Instagram. “Giana brought joy and light to those around her,” the account shared. “Our hearts go out to her family, friends, teammates and fellow students. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.”
North Central President Abiódún Gòkè-ParÃolá added a separate statement of condolence. “No words can ease the pain of her loss, but please know that we mourn with you and are here to support you,” he said. “Our hearts are also with those injured in the shooting and their loved ones.”
Her high school squad’s Instagram tribute closed with a pointed emphasis on her lasting effect. “She respected others and made our school a better place,” the teammates wrote. “Her impact will not be forgotten.”
Simington pledged an active hunt for whoever opened fire at the crowded Halloween gathering. Officials “will identify the person or persons responsible for this tragedy and bring them forward for justice,” he declared.
He added that investigators remain focused on both accountability and the surviving victims. “We continue to wish all those injured a full recovery and hope they have the support and care they need during this difficult time,” the chief said. “We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation, identifying those responsible, and ensuring accountability.”
Dettloff had traveled to Bloomington to visit a friend when the shooting erupted at the party near the Illinois Wesleyan campus. The gathering drew a young crowd, with victims spanning from a 16-year-old girl to the 22-year-old man, all cut down in the same burst of violence that killed the visiting cheerleader.
Police have scheduled a press conference to provide an update on the investigation.