In the late afternoon of October 4, 2024, a burst of violence shattered the quiet of a Fort Wayne, Indiana neighborhood, leaving a young man's life cut tragically short. Angel Hennie Maldonado, a 23-year-old Hispanic male, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 400 block of Dalman Avenue, near Weisser Park. The incident occurred around 5:50 p.m., and despite being rushed to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. The Allen County Coroner's Office later confirmed that Maldonado's death was a homicide, the 34th in Allen County that year.
The investigation into the shooting led Fort Wayne police to a 16-year-old male, Brauch Wilkins-Pease. He was arrested without incident in the 400 block of Eckart Street, not far from the scene of the crime. Initially held at the Allen County Juvenile Center on preliminary charges of murder, felony murder, and attempted robbery, Wilkins-Pease was later charged as an adult with murder. Authorities have indicated that a second suspect was involved in the shooting, but that individual has not been publicly identified as the investigation continues.
Maldonado was remembered by his family and friends as a beloved son, father, brother, and friend. He was the father of a 4-year-old daughter named Kior. Known for his passion for basketball and boxing, he also had a love for modern muscle cars, with a particular affection for his Hemi 300 project car. He had dreams of becoming a barber. In the wake of his death, his family organized a fundraiser to help with funeral expenses, remembering him for his kind and respectful nature and his deep devotion to his daughter.
