UPDATE (November 6, 2024):
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The family of 18-year-old Wyatt Beckler is suing the city of Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne police for his November 2022 shooting death.
Officer Andrew Fry was ruled to be justified in using deadly force by the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office in March 2023. Beckler was shot three times in his back when he was reaching into his pocket and ignoring police commands. His mother and twin brother filed the lawsuit, saying he had a history of mental health issues and say the Fort Wayne Police Department knew of his struggles.
UPDATE (March 20, 2023):
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – No charges will be filed in an officer-involved shooting in November of last year.
Officers were called to the 400 block of Poplar Street on November 2 where police said a man, later identified as 18-year-old Wyatt Beckler, pulled a weapon after being given verbal commands by an officer.
That officer then opened fire – hitting Beckler. He was initially hospitalized with life-threatening injuries but later died in surgery.
The officer involved has now been cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting.
The Fort Wayne Police Department released the following:
The Office of the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney has completed its review of the investigation surrounding the police action shooting that occurred on November 2, 2022, at Poplar Street, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which resulted in the death of Wyatt Beckler.
The shooting investigation was completed by the Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has determined that there is no evidence of criminal liability in this incident. The officer was justified in using force, as he reasonably believed that force was necessary to prevent serious bodily injury or death to himself and/or citizens of this community.
The Fort Wayne Police Department and the Indiana State Police have determined that the officer’s actions were consistent with department policy and the use of force was reasonable to prevent serious bodily injury or death to the officer and/or citizens of this community.
You can watch a Critical Incident Video Brief of the Officer Involved Shooting here
UPDATE (November 4, 2022):
The coroner says that an 18-year-old shot by an FWPD officer Wednesday has died.
Officers were called to the 400 block of Poplar Street, close to Hoagland for a disturbance. Officials say the man pulled a weapon after being given verbal commands by an officer.
That officer then opened fire hitting the suspect now identified by the coroner. He was initially hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
The officer involved was named later on Thursday and the FWPD sent out his commendation and disciplinary record.
The 18-year-old was identified as Wyatt Beckler. The manner of his death was ruled as homicide.
The Allen County Coroner released the following:
The autopsy has been completed and notification has been made to the next of kin for the male victim that
was involved in a police action shooting at Hoagland Avenue and Butler Street, in Fort Wayne, on
Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at approximately 13:01 hours. The decedent was transported to a local
hospital where death was pronounced in the operating room. The decedent has been positively identified as
Wyatt Beckler, a male, white, 18 years of age from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Cause of Death has been determined to be Gunshot Wounds and the Manner of Death is Homicide.
Wyatt Beckler is the 22nd Homicide for Fort Wayne, Allen County for 2022.
The incident remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police, Fort Wayne Police Department, the
Allen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Allen County Coroner’s Office.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne Police Department officials say that one of its officers shot and injured a man after he pulled a gun on a woman Wednesday.
Officers were called to the 400 block of Poplar Street, close to Hoagland for a disturbance.
Officials say he pulled a weapon after being given verbal commands by an officer. That officer then opened fire, and the man is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
Police say that several people witnessed the shooting and are cooperating.
FWPD officials released the following:
On Wednesday November 2nd 2022, at approximately 1300 hours officers were
dispatched to the 400 block of Poplar St regarding a disturbance that involved a subject that was possibly armed with a weapon.
Upon officer’s arrival on scene, he observed a male subject that matched the description given to 911 operators on the original call to police.
At some point during this incident shots were fired by police striking the suspect.
Officers then rendered medical aid to the suspect until EMS arrived. The suspect was transported to a local area hospital in life threatening condition. The officer was not injured.
Several witnesses were identified and are cooperating with the investigation.
This incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the Allen County Prosecuting Office.
