Alan John "AJ" Puff was a 21-year-old from Fort Wayne, Indiana, known for his love of motorsports and his dedicated work ethic. A graduate of South Side High School, he worked as a fence installer for R & R Fencing. To his friends and family, he was a loving, caring, and funny young man. His true passion, however, was found on the racetrack. An avid and talented racer, Alan competed in the mini stock division at local tracks, including Baer Field Speedway, Angola Motorsport Speedway, and Kalamazoo Raceway, where he was a respected member of the racing community.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, September 21, 2014, Alan’s life was tragically cut short. At approximately 12:55 a.m., a shooting occurred at 602 E. Rudisill Blvd. in Fort Wayne. Alan was shot and critically wounded during the incident. Another person was also injured in the shooting. Emergency responders transported Alan to Lutheran Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
The Allen County Coroner’s Office later ruled his death a homicide, marking the 12th homicide in the county that year.
The Fort Wayne Police Department launched an investigation into the killing. Detectives began to piece together the events of that night, and information surfaced suggesting Alan may have been targeted. Unconfirmed reports indicated the shooting could have been connected to a load of drugs that had been seized by law enforcement. Despite this potential lead, the investigation has not resulted in any publicly announced arrests or charges in connection with Alan's murder.
In the years since his death, the case has remained open. The Fort Wayne Police Department continues to seek information from the public that could lead to a breakthrough. The lead investigator assigned to the case is Detective Brian Martin. To encourage potential witnesses to come forward, Crime Stoppers has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the resolution of the case. The lack of closure has been a source of ongoing pain for Alan’s loved ones and his community.
Alan was deeply mourned by his parents, John and Connie, his brother, and his three sisters. His family, along with a wide circle of friends and fellow racers, gathered for services to honor his memory and celebrate his life. Online memorial pages were filled with messages of love and remembrance, testaments to the positive impact he had on those who knew him. His passion for racing and his warm personality left a lasting impression on the local motorsports scene.
As of October 2026, the murder of Alan Puff remains unsolved. His family continues to hope for justice and answers in the case that took him from them more than a decade ago. Anyone with information about the shooting that occurred on September 21, 2014, is urged to contact the Fort Wayne Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
