In the quiet city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, a tragedy unfolded that cut short the life of a young woman. Ro Ze Ma, a 24-year-old female of Burmese descent, was fatally shot in her apartment on the evening of March 19, 2022. The incident, which took place in the 2100 block of Chartwell Avenue, would soon unravel a story of domestic violence and illicit activities.
That night, police were called to the residence just after 11 p.m. regarding a shooting.
Upon arrival, they found Ro Ze Ma with a gunshot wound to her chest. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. The Allen County Coroner's Office later officially ruled her death a homicide.
The initial account of the event, provided by Ro Ze Ma's 23-year-old husband, Har San, suggested that an unknown individual had opened the back door and fired into the apartment. However, as investigators delved deeper, inconsistencies in his story began to emerge. Witnesses reported hearing an argument between the couple shortly before the gunshots rang out. Further suspicion was cast on Har San when surveillance footage from the area failed to show anyone in the backyard prior to the shooting.
The investigation took a significant turn when detectives discovered a duffel bag containing marijuana, methamphetamine, and an AR-style pistol in a wooded area behind the couple's apartment. Surveillance video captured Har San disposing of these items. Inside the apartment, authorities found a photograph of Har San holding a similar weapon. With the evidence mounting against him, Har San was arrested on March 20, 2022. He was subsequently charged with murder, as well as dealing in methamphetamine and cocaine. Ultimately, Har San was found guilty of shooting and killing his wife.
