On the evening of February 17, 2021, tragedy struck in Fort Wayne, Indiana, claiming the life of Anderson Retic, a 19-year-old Black male known affectionately as Andy to his friends and family. Retic was seated in a vehicle at a Shell gas station located near the intersection of State Boulevard and Hobson Road, accompanied by two other young men, Joshua Cooper and Jaylin Rice.
What began as a routine stop for the group turned violent after a brief verbal altercation occurred with another patron at the convenience store. As the situation escalated, the group attempted to leave the premises, but their departure was cut short by a sudden act of aggression that would have fatal consequences.
Law enforcement officials and emergency responders rushed to the scene following reports of gunshots and a subsequent vehicle crash nearby. Upon arrival, they discovered the sedan the three men had been occupying had crashed into a snowbank a short distance down Hobson Road. Despite the efforts of first responders, both Anderson Retic and Joshua Cooper were pronounced dead at the scene, having succumbed to gunshot wounds. The third occupant, Jaylin Rice, survived the attack but was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, suffering from severe injuries.
Investigators quickly turned their attention to surveillance footage from the gas station, which provided a chilling account of the events leading up to the deaths. The video captured a red pickup truck driven by a man who appeared to argue with the victims after purchasing cigarettes. The driver circled the victims' vehicle in the parking lot, drove away briefly, and then returned to open fire into their car. Police identified the shooter as 34-year-old Joseph Bossard. He was apprehended and taken into custody, facing charges that included two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and an enhancement for using a firearm in the commission of a crime.
The legal process faced significant delays as the court addressed concerns regarding the competency of the suspect to stand trial. After being restored to competency, Joseph Bossard eventually entered a guilty plea in June 2023, avoiding a trial that could have resulted in a sentence of life without parole. In August 2023, an Allen Superior Judge handed down a decisive sentence, ordering Bossard to serve 190 years in prison. The sentence included consecutive terms for the murders of Retic and Cooper, the attempted murder of Rice, and the firearm enhancement, ensuring the perpetrator would remain incarcerated for the remainder of his life.
