UPDATE (July 28, 2023):
The Fort Wayne Police Department says that two more people have been arrested in connection to a man’s shooting death in a vehicle off Lower Huntington Road Tuesday morning.
Following two other local arrests on Wednesday, police now say the other suspects were arrested in Gary, Indiana on Thursday.
Earlier that day, the Allen County Coroner released the identity of the victim. The coroner says that 40-year-old Dennis Starr was shot in the chest and ruled the manner of his death as a homicide.
Samuel Evans IV and Jesse Shears were brought back to Allen County and now each face a charge of murder in addition to Samuel Evans III and Lexus Evans who are also charged with murder.
The Fort Wayne Police Department released the following:
On 7/27/2023 at approximately 1330 hrs., the Fort Wayne Homicide Unit made two additional arrests reference the death investigation on 07/25/2023 at Lower Huntington Road and Kruge Drive. The FWPD took Samuel Evans IV and Jesse Shears into custody without incident in Gary Indiana and transported them both back to Fort Wayne for the charge of murder. Assisting in this investigation was the FWPD Vice/Narcotics Division, Gang Unit, Aerial Support Unit, Crime Scene Technicians, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, US Marshalls, Indiana State Police, the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Gary Police Department.
UPDATE #2 (July 27, 2023):
The Allen County Coroner’s Office has identified a man who was found in a vehicle off Lower Huntington Road Tuesday morning.
The coroner says that 40-year-old Dennis Starr was shot in the chest and ruled the manner of his death as a homicide.
Two people, 50-year-old Samuel Evans III and 25-year-old Lexus Evans were arrested in a traffic stop Wednesday.
The Allen County Coroner’s Office released the following:
The autopsy has been completed and notification has been made to the next of kin for the individual found deceased within his vehicle in the 4300 block of Lower Huntington Road, in Fort Wayne, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at approximately 0541 hours. The decedent was pronounced deceased at the scene by Three Rivers Ambulance Authority.
He has been positively identified as Dennis Dwayne Starr a male, Black, 40 years of age from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Dennis Dwayne Starr’s Cause of Death has been determined to be a Gunshot Wound of Chest, and the Manner of Death is Homicide.
Dennis Dwayne Starr is the 15th Homicide for Fort Wayne and Allen County in 2023.
The incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Allen County Coroner’s Office.
UPDATE (July 27, 2023):
Two people are in police custody on preliminary charges of murder in Fort Wayne.
Police arrested 50-year-old Samuel Evans III and 25-year-old Lexus Evans after a traffic stop Wednesday.
They are suspects in the death of a man who was found in a vehicle off Lower Huntington Road Tuesday morning. The victim’s name has not been released.
The Allen County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the cause and manner of death.
The Fort Wayne Police Department released the following:
On 7/26/2023 the Fort Wayne Homicide Unit made two arrest reference the death investigation on 07/25/2023 at Lower Huntington Road and Kruge Drive (23F086755). Two suspects were taken into custody without incident in a high risk traffic stop. 50yo Samuel Evans III and 25yo Lexus Evans are each facing a single count of murder in connection to the incident. They are currently at the Allen County Jail. The Homicide Unit was assisted by the Uniform Operations Division, the Vice and Narcotics Division, the Aerial Support Unit and the Allen County Prosecutors Office.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Fort Wayne Police Department says that it is investigating after a person was found dead in a vehicle off Lower Huntington Road early Tuesday morning.
The FWPD says that someone called about a vehicle that appeared to have crashed just west of Ardmore. Following the call, just before 5:45 a.m., an officer arrived and found the deceased driver. CPR was initiated but they were pronounced dead at the scene.
It is currently unclear how the person died or if police suspect foul play. The FWPD is continuing to investigate and is asking for anyone with information to come forward.
The Fort Wayne Police Department released the following just after 9 a.m. Tuesday:
The Fort Wayne Police Department is investigating a death investigation. Emergency communications received a 911 call, from a passing motorist, regarding a vehicle on the side of the road that appeared to have been in a crash. An officer arrived a few minutes later to find the driver unconscious and not breathing, to which the officer initiated CPR. Medics later arrived and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The FWPD Homicide team and Crime Scene technicians are processing the scene for details. Lower Huntington Road is closed between Ardmore and Smith for thru traffic. It is believe the road will be closed for another hour. Officers are allowing traffic from Kilbourn Dr to the west, entering from Smith Rd.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Fort Wayne Police at 260-427-1201, Crime Stoppers at 260-436-7867, or use the P3 Tips app.
