Nov 05, 2024
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- The family of an 18-year-old man who was shot and killed by Fort Wayne police in November 2022 is suing the officer involving in the shooting along with other individuals and government agencies, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court. The officer-involved shooting happened Nov. 2, 2022 after police responded to the 400 block of Poplar Street on initial reports of a disturbance involving an armed person. In March 2023, the Allen County Prosecutor's Office ruled that the officer, identified as Andrew Fry, was justified in using force in the death of Wyatt Beckler. According to a report from the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD), Beckler had called 911 saying a person wearing a blue hoodie had pulled a gun on him, but surveillance footage appeared to show Beckler describing his own appearance during the phone call. Officer Fry eventually found Beckler, who was shown in bodycam footage walking down Hoagland Avenue. After repeatedly ignoring some of Officer Fry's commands, Beckler appeared to reach for something in his pocket when Officer Fry shot him three times in the back, according to the FWPD. Police later recovered a knife in Beckler's pocket and learned Beckler had been researching "suicide by cop" videos on YouTube, according to an FWPD-edited video released alongside the Allen County Prosecutor's Office's ruling. Prosecutor: Fort Wayne police officer justified in shooting 18-year-old However, the lawsuit -- filed by Beckler's mother and twin brother -- said Beckler had a history of mental health issues such as depression and suicidal tendencies and claims the FWPD knew about it prior to the day of the officer-involved shooting. According to the lawsuit, the FWPD had responded to the Beckler residence on Poplar Street multiple times and had also taken Beckler to "mental health care on an emergency basis more than once." The lawsuit claims that Officer Fry's actions violated the constitutional rights of both Beckler and his family and that his actions were "clearly excessive to the need" and "objectively and subjectively unreasonable." Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker, the City of Fort Wayne and the FWPD were also named as defendants in the lawsuit. The Beckler estate is asking for a jury trial and for $10 million in general damages and well as other forms of relief. WANE 15 reached out to the City of Fort Wayne Tuesday regarding the lawsuit, and a city spokesperson said they cannot comment on pending litigation.
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