WHITLEY COUNTY — Authorities have officially closed a year-long investigation into a fatal confrontation that began with a homicide pursuit in Fort Wayne and ended in an officer-involved shooting on State Road 9.
On Monday, the Indiana State Police (ISP) announced that the Whitley County Coroner’s Office has finalized its determination regarding the death of Christifer DeBus, 38, of Fort Wayne. Chief Deputy Coroner Randy Dellinger ruled the cause of death as a “contact gunshot wound of the head” and the manner of death as a suicide.
The incident began on the evening of April 20, 2025, after Fort Wayne Police were called to a possible homicide. Officers identified a suspect vehicle leaving the scene and initiated a pursuit that spanned multiple jurisdictions, involving the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police.
The chase came to a head on SR 9 south of Columbia City. During the final moments of the pursuit, an ISP Trooper attempted a precision immobilization technique (PIT) to force the vehicle to a stop. Investigators determined that DeBus fired shots at close range at the Trooper during this maneuver.
In the exchange that followed, officers from several agencies returned fire. One Trooper sustained minor injuries after being struck by broken glass during the gunfire. After a brief standoff, medics reached the vehicle and pronounced DeBus dead at the scene.
Following standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, all ISP Troopers involved were initially placed on administrative leave while detectives worked to determine if the fatal wound was self-inflicted or the result of police gunfire.
With the Coroner’s ruling of suicide, the Indiana State Police confirmed that all Troopers involved in the incident have returned to their normal patrol duties.
The extensive investigation was a collaborative effort involving ISP SWAT, Fort Wayne Police’s EST and ESU (Drone) units, and multiple county sheriff’s departments. All findings from the investigation will be turned over to the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office for a final review.
Questions regarding the Fort Wayne homicide that preceded the chase should be directed to the Fort Wayne Police Department, while inquiries regarding the cause of death should be referred to the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.
