In the early hours of a summer morning in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a large party in the 1100 block of East Lewis Street turned into a scene of violence and tragedy. On July 26, 2020, amidst a gathering of what police estimated to be around 100 people, gunfire erupted, striking three individuals. When officers arrived at approximately 3:55 a.m., they found a chaotic situation and discovered one man who had succumbed to his injuries at the scene. He was later identified as 29-year-old Frederick D. Sanders, a male resident of the city.
Two other adult victims were also wounded in the shooting. They were transported to a local hospital with injuries that were considered non-life-threatening. In the immediate aftermath, Fort Wayne police detectives began the difficult task of piecing together the events of that morning. They appealed to the numerous witnesses who were present at the party to come forward with any information that could lead to the person or persons responsible for the senseless act of violence that took Sanders's life.
The investigation into the homicide moved forward, and just under two weeks later, an arrest was made. On August 7, 2020, the Fort Wayne Police Department announced that they had taken a suspect into custody. 28-year-old Darius Holiness was arrested and faced several charges in connection with the shooting on East Lewis Street. He was charged with murder for the death of Frederick Sanders, as well as criminal recklessness and possession of cocaine. The arrest brought a measure of progress to an investigation that began in the midst of a crowded and chaotic party scene.
