UPDATE (June 26, 2024):
As Mayor Sharon Tucker said in a statement on Monday, the footage from the body-worn camera in the shooting death of Linzell Parhm was released after the family reviewed it.
The footage shows parts of the Saturday night traffic stop and FWPD officer Mason Wills’ interactions with Parhm leading up to the shooting. Many details still remain unclear and the investigation is ongoing.
Linzell’s family has retained national civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
You can see Mayor Tucker’s full statement below.
Along with the release of the video, the FWPD released the following:
The Fort Wayne Police Department has been in communication with the family of Linzell Parhm, regarding the officer involved shooting that occurred this past weekend. The family has viewed the body camera footage. The body camera footage is being released so the public has a transparent view of what occurred and a more accurate understanding of the events in question.
These events affect everyone involved and it is important to get all the facts necessary before reserving judgement. This situation is unprecedented with the viral video of the incident that has been circulating. Each situation that we encounter in the future will be handled on a case-by-case basis and may not involve the immediate release of body camera footage.
This incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana State Police Department, Allen County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Coroner’s Office.
You can view the video through this link. Be aware that is graphic.
The FWPD released Wills’ record with the department on Tuesday as well. He was hired in 2017 and most recently received three letters of commendation and a 2023 excellence award. It also shows he was involved in two crashes in an FWPD vehicle and was suspended in 2019 for failing to properly search a suspect in custody.
The following was released:
SUBJECT: Request for Disciplinary History, Commendations, etc.
OFFICER: Mason N. Wills DATE OF HIRE: June 15, 2017
DISCIPLINARY ACTION:
DATE ALLEGATION DISCIPLINE
2018
Police Vehicle Accident Letter of Reprimand (Officer involved in a squad car accident.)
2019
Obedience to Department Suspension Policies (Officer failed to conduct a thorough and proper search of a subject that was in custody.)
2021 Police Vehicle Accident Letter of Reprimand (Officer involved in a squad car accident.)
COMMENDATIONS:
DATE REASON
2022 Letter of Commendation
2023 Letter of Commendation
2023 Letter of Commendation
2023 Award of Excellence
UPDATE (June 25, 2024):
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker is speaking out about the shooting death of 22-year-old Linzell Parhm by a police officer. She says the body camera footage will be released after Parhm’s family gets the chance to watch it. The coroner ruled his death to be a homicide-police action shooting and he died after being shot several times during a traffic stop.
The City of Fort Wayne released her statement as follows:
Mayor Sharon Tucker this evening invited members of the media to the office of the mayor for an updated statement regarding the officer involved shooting from Saturday evening. Mayor Tucker and members of the Fort Wayne Police Department did not take questions from the media due to the case being an active investigation.
Mayor Tucker’s statement is as follows:
My office and I have spent the weekend and all of today in communication with the Fort Wayne Police Department. Our entire City of Fort Wayne team has worked diligently to properly review the incident from this past weekend.
I am a strong proponent of body cameras. My support goes back to my time on City Council and my leadership on the passage of the implementation of body cameras. My desire is to have body cameras serve as protection for public safety personnel and the public. Transparency and trust are key components of a healthy and desirable community.
The Fort Wayne Police Department is in communication with the family of Linzell Parhm to allow for them to view the body camera footage. Once the family has had the opportunity to view the video, the City of Fort Wayne will release the body camera footage to the media and the public. This is out of the utmost respect for the family.
This situation is unprecedented due in part to the viral video of the incident that has been circulating. Each situation that we encounter in the future will be handled on a case-by-case basis and may not involve the immediate release of body camera footage.
Members of the Fort Wayne Police Department and I will not be able to take questions from the media due to the case being an active investigation.
It is critical that we come together as residents of our great city and support one another.
The Fort Wayne Urban League released the following response to the mayor’s statement:
The following was Aishia Arrington, President and CEO, Fort Wayne Urban League While the Fort Wayne Urban League is deeply saddened and deeply concerned about the shooting death of Linzell Parhm, our goal is to work together to create solutions so that we never have another incident like this in the future. Our heart breaks for the family of the victim and for all of Fort Wayne for this tragedy. Every shooting death is horrendous, and this is no exception. Linzell was a graduate of South Side High School, a licensed barber, and worked as a Summer Youth Camp counselor for many years; his family, those he served, and organizations he worked with are simply heartbroken.
The Fort Wayne Urban League is encouraged by the statement of Mayor Sharon Tucker and accepts the promise of a full investigation as outlined in her statement that was released yesterday. “I want the residents of Fort Wayne to know that I understand the concern that is being felt in our community tonight. When a life is lost, we mourn. I continue to be in communication with Chief Caudill regarding last evening’s officer involved shooting. The investigation is being handled by multiple law enforcement agencies. Through this important process, we will learn the details of what occurred. Public safety is a vital and difficult service. It’s critical that we come together as residents of our great city and support one another.”
“The Fort Wayne Urban League has long been an advocate for equity, fairness, and for transparency in situations that raise questions of social justice. The social media release of the video surrounding the stop and subsequent death of Linzell Parhm has raised questions and concerns for many in the community that the Fort Wayne Urban League serves. Like so many citizens, I was deeply disturbed by what was depicted in the video. Our condolences go out to Linzell’s friends and family as we mourn his tragic death and acknowledge his life and legacy. While we recognize the gravity of these circumstances, we also understand that body cameras of this incident have not yet been released and that this one video does not provide all of the information necessary to draw a final conclusion or plan of action,” stated Arrington.
The Fort Wayne Urban League is committed to leading conversations, meaningful actions and addressing the concerns of our citizens around the concept of police service and community trust. Our ultimate goal is to create a sense of partnership between both the Fort Wayne Police Department and the people they are sworn in to serve and protect. We call on a thorough investigation of the incident. We ask that the community stay calm while this incident is investigated. The Fort Wayne Urban League will assist in any way possible to assure that answers to this shooting are secured.
The Allen County Coroner’s Office released the following:
On Saturday, June 22nd, 2024, the Allen County Coroner’s Office was notified of a police involved shooting in the intersection of John Street and Hurd Street, in Fort Wayne. The victim was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced deceased.
The victim was identified as Linzell Parhm, 22, male, Black of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
An autopsy has been completed and notification has been made to the legal next of kin. The Cause of Death is Multiple Gunshot Wounds and the Manner of Death is Homicide-Police Action Shooting.
Linzell Parhm is the 19th homicide for Allen County in 2024.
The incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana State Police, the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Allen County Coroner’s Office.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – One person has been killed in an officer-involved shooting in Fort Wayne. The victim has been identified by the NAACP Fort Wayne Branch as Linzell Parhim.
Video of the shooting Saturday night at John Street and Hurd Street has been posted by a witness to Facebook and the officer is heard in the video telling someone in the vehicle to put their hands up and don’t reach for something in the vehicle. Two shots were then fired.
The officer has been placed on leave which is standard protocol.
Mayor Sharon Tucker released the following statement:
I want the residents of Fort Wayne to know that I understand the concern that is being felt in our community tonight. When a life is lost, we mourn. I continue to be in communication with Chief Caudill regarding last evening’s officer involved shooting. The investigation is being handled by multiple law enforcement agencies. Through this important process, we will learn the details of what occurred. Public safety is a vital and difficult service. It’s critical that we come together as residents of our great city and support one another.
The Fort Wayne Police Department released the following shortly after the shooting:
At approximately 10:31pm, a Fort Wayne Police Department Officer initiated a traffic stop at the location of John Street and Hurd Street. During the traffic stop, actions from occupants inside the vehicle caused the Officer to discharge their weapon. An adult male was injured and life-saving efforts were performed at the scene. The male was then transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries, where he would later be pronounced deceased.
The FWPD Officer was not injured during the incident, and per FWPD Policy, will be placed on administrative leave.
This incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana State Police, Allen County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Coroner’s Office.
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