Officer kills armed man outside VFW
A Fort Wayne police officer, responding to a reported fight, shot and killed a 20-year-old man early Saturday after he raised his gun at the officer, police said.
Police believe Derrick C. Ford, 20, of Fort Wayne, may have shot and wounded another man just before the officer opened fire.
Ford died at the scene after he was shot by officer Mark Gerardot outside the Veterans of Foreign Wars post at 2441 Winter St. just before 3 a.m., police said.
The Allen County Coroner's Office said Ford died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Toxicology tests are pending. His death was ruled the city's and Allen County's first homicide this year.
"It was a very chaotic situation," Police Chief Rusty York said. "It's unfortunate that officer Gerardot had to use deadly force, but I think the officer's use of a deadly weapon was appropriate."
Just before Ford was shot, Cheynne J. Williams, 23, of Fort Wayne, was wounded by gunshots from within a crowd leaving the VFW, police said. York said investigators believe Ford shot Williams, who was taken to a hospital in serious condition. The number of gunshots that may have hit Williams was unclear Saturday night.
Gerardot was patrolling the area based on information about a possible fight at the VFW, police said.
Upon seeing Ford with a gun, Gerardot left his vehicle and repeatedly ordered Ford to drop the weapon, police said. Ford refused to obey and began to walk away before suddenly turning around and raising his gun at Gerardot, police said.
Gerardot then shot Ford, police said.
Nearly a hundred people were leaving the VFW, York said, and many were on the street.
Police have interviewed a number of witnesses, York said.
Information gathered suggests the shooting was inevitable to protect the life of Gerardot and lives of others on the street, York said.
Police promptly reported the shooting to the local NAACP, said the Rev. Michael Latham, president of the organization. Ford was black.
Ford's family also contacted Latham and expressed concerns about the shooting, Latham said. He said he would keep pushing police to release information and encourage witnesses to come forward to help the investigation.
"We have deep concerns, as a young man was killed," Latham said. "At this moment, we don't have information or reason to believe procedure was not followed."
Gerardot will be placed on paid administrative leave for at least a week - standard procedure after officer-involved shootings, York said.
Fort Wayne police, the Allen County prosecutor and the coroner are investigating.
Gerardot joined the police force in December 1997. He is a patrolman and member of the Emergency Services Team, also known as the department's special weapons and tactics team.
Ford was charged last October with possession of cocaine and false informing, according to felony arrest records. A state database showed Ford did not have a gun permit as of last May.
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I guess that sometimes a person walking around with a gun can be a threat to Police. There was no call or report of a shooting or a man with a weapon. I wonder what would have happened if the Officer has considered that the man was just a good guy (or a victim who had armed himself) and just walked up to him.............
figured I'da been kilt when some yahoo "decocked" the thing & shot himself in the leg.