In the early evening of a summer day in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the life of a young boy was tragically cut short. On June 1, 2020, 12-year-old Naryous Wilson, a Black male, was found with a gunshot wound to the head inside a residence in the 500 block of Pierce Avenue. Fort Wayne police officers responded to a call about a shooting at 5:21 p.m. and discovered the gravely injured boy.
Despite the immediate response, Naryous was pronounced dead at the scene.
Known affectionately as 'King Bam,' Naryous was a sixth-grader at Jefferson Middle School who was remembered for his vibrant and outgoing personality. He had a love for sports, music, and being in the great outdoors. His sudden and violent death sent ripples of grief through his family, friends, and the wider Fort Wayne community. He was a student who had also attended Indian Village Lincoln Arlington and was an active player on the Cowboys Metropolitan Football League team.
In the wake of the shooting, the Fort Wayne Police Department, in conjunction with the Allen County Coroner's Office and the Allen County Prosecutor's Office, launched a homicide investigation. Detectives and crime scene technicians worked the scene, gathering evidence and speaking with potential witnesses to piece together the events that led to the young boy's death. An autopsy confirmed that a gunshot wound to the head was the cause of his death, though the manner of death was initially listed as pending further investigation.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the investigation into the death of Naryous Wilson has been met with challenges. To date, there has been no public announcement of any arrests made or suspects identified in connection with the shooting. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unresolved, leaving a painful void for his loved ones and the community. A funeral service was held for Naryous on June 12, 2020, at Blackhawk Ministries, where those who knew and loved him gathered to pay their final respects.
