In the early hours of January 24, 2026, the city of Fort Wayne recorded its first homicide of the year with the death of 31-year-old Khiry Van Wilkens. Initially responding to what appeared to be a car crash near the intersection of Pemberton Drive and East State Boulevard, police officers discovered Wilkens unresponsive in his vehicle. It was soon determined that he had sustained a gunshot wound.
Emergency responders transported Wilkens to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his
injuries. The Allen County Coroner's Office later confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound and officially ruled the manner of death as a homicide. Investigators believe the shooting actually occurred a few blocks away from where Wilkens' vehicle was found.
The investigation into the death of Khiry Van Wilkens led to the arrest of two suspects. Evidence suggested that the shooting was the result of an attempted robbery that turned fatal. The suspects were subsequently charged in connection with the murder and the robbery attempt, bringing a swift development in the case that had marked a somber beginning to the new year for the community. Further details on the court proceedings for the two individuals charged are pending as the case moves through the legal system.
