Salvation Army says bellringer hit by stray bullet in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT) - The Salvation Army says one of its bellringers was hit by what is believed to be a stray bullet in Topeka.

According to Salvation Army Major Tom McDowell, a homeless man who works as a Salvation Army bellringer was shot in the shoulder last night as he was walking in the area of 13th and Polk.

McDowell said the man showed up to work on Tuesday and went to work ringing the bell at his post at 29th and California. When Salvation Army staff found out what happened, they took him to an area hospital and later put him in a hotel to recover.

McDowell said the man's bike was also stolen and that someone had offered to donate money to buy the bellringer a new bike.

"He showed up to work this morning and kind of casually told our supervisor that he'd been shot last night," McDowell told a 27 News reporter.

27 News has reached out to the Topeka Police Department for more information. It will be added to this story as it becomes available.

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