Crime
19-year-old Preston Church killed in southeast Fort Wayne shooting
The coroner determined that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
The Allen County Coroner has identified the victim of a recent shooting on the city’s southeast side.
Preston Jermere Church, 19, of Fort Wayne, tragically lost his life in the incident.
Fort Wayne Police initiated an investigation into the shooting on Thursday night, October 3rd, in the 6000 block of Waycross Drive near the intersection of Paulding and Hessen Cassel roads.
Church sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital, where he was sadly pronounced deceased.
The coroner determined that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Fort Wayne Police Department at 260-427-1201, Crime Stoppers at 260-436-7867, or utilize the P3 Tips app.
Crime
18-year-old Kyler Naely charged for the murder in shooting death of 16-year-old Ja’Tycie Williams
An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged in a deadly shooting that occurred in October, which claimed the life of a 16-year-old and injured another.
The incident began on October 6, 2024, shortly after 12:45 a.m., when officers were called to a shooting on I-244 near Yale Avenue.
Upon arrival, they discovered a gray SUV riddled with bullet holes and shattered windows. Investigators determined that seven people were inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Two occupants of the vehicle suffered gunshot wounds.
One victim, 16-year-old Ja’Tycie Williams, sustained critical injuries and succumbed to them several weeks later. The other victim suffered a minor gunshot wound to the arm and survived.
Preliminary investigations revealed the incident was linked to a fight at the Tulsa State Fair earlier that evening.
Witnesses reported that the altercation, which occurred as the group was leaving the fairgrounds, likely escalated into the highway shooting.
Following an in-depth investigation, Tulsa Police Homicide Detectives identified 18-year-old Kyler Naely as the suspect responsible for the shooting.
On November 19, 2024, Naely was arrested, charged with first-degree murder, and booked into the Tulsa County Jail.
Authorities emphasize that the case remains under investigation and are urging anyone with additional information to contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS. Callers can remain anonymous.