A man was shot while driving home early Sunday morning
A man was driving home around 3 a.m. on Sunday when another car pulled up next to him at the intersection of South Clinton Street and Lewis Street and fired shots at him, according to the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD). The man was hit by multiple bullets and drove himself to an apartment complex near the intersection of East Washington Boulevard and Francis Street, where he parked his car and called the police. Medics transported him to a hospital with critical injuries. Police said the man is in life-threatening condition.
Police are looking for the suspect vehicle and the motive behind the shooting
The FWPD is investigating the shooting and looking for the suspect vehicle and the motive behind the attack. At this time, it is unknown how many people were in the suspect vehicle or what kind of vehicle it was. Police also do not know if the shooter and the victim knew each other or if the shooting was random. Anyone with any information is asked to call the FWPD or make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 436-7867 or use the free P3 app to leave anonymous information.
Shooting in downtown Fort Wayne is the latest in a series of violent incidents
The shooting in downtown Fort Wayne is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have occurred in the city in the past few weeks. On Dec. 30, 2023, three police officers and a suspect were involved in an officer-involved shooting in the Wells Street roundabout. The suspect, identified as 46-year-old John Everett Sawyer, was shot and killed by the police after he allegedly pointed a gun at them. The officers were not injured in the incident.
On Dec. 24, 2023, a man was killed and two others were injured in an ambush shooting on Christmas Eve. The shooting happened in the 1400 block of Greene Street around 9 p.m. The victim, identified as 23-year-old Darius McMorris, was pronounced dead at the scene. The two other victims, a 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police arrested 20-year-old Trivel D. Crum and 19-year-old Javon D. Crum on charges of murder, attempted murder, and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon.
On Nov. 27, 2023, a man died after a shooting near downtown Fort Wayne. The shooting happened in the 1000 block of Rockhill Street around noon. The victim, identified as 28-year-old Darius J. Williams, was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Police have not released any information on the suspect or the motive in this case.
Fort Wayne residents are concerned about the rise in gun violence
The rise in gun violence in Fort Wayne has caused concern among the residents and the authorities. According to the FWPD, there were 49 homicides in the city in 2023, the highest number in the city’s history. The previous record was 48 homicides in 2016. The FWPD also reported 213 non-fatal shootings in 2023, up from 178 in 2022.
Some residents have expressed their fear and frustration over the situation. “It’s scary. You don’t know if you’re going to be the next victim or not. You don’t know who to trust or who to avoid. You don’t feel safe anywhere,” said Jasmine Smith, a resident of the Francis Street apartment complex where the Sunday shooting victim drove to.
Others have called for more action and solutions from the city leaders and the community. “We need to do something about this. We need to stop the violence and the hate. We need to work together and help each other. We need to make Fort Wayne a better place for everyone,” said Michael Jones, a resident of the Greene Street neighborhood where the Christmas Eve shooting occurred.
