COLUMBIA CITY – The Indiana State Police (ISP) have released an update regarding the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Sunday, April 20th, just before 8:00 PM on State Road 9 south of Columbia City. The incident followed a homicide investigation initiated by the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD).
According to ISP, FWPD was initially called to a possible homicide in Fort Wayne. Authorities described the suspect’s vehicle, which was subsequently located and pursued by the FWPD. Indiana State Police troopers from the Fort Wayne Post joined the pursuit as it entered Whitley County. The Whitley County and Allen County Sheriff’s Departments also assisted in the multi-jurisdictional quest for the homicide suspect.
At some point during the pursuit, the suspect reportedly fired shots at officers, prompting return fire from officers of multiple agencies. Following a brief standoff, officers made contact with the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. No one else was in the vehicle. One Indiana State Police trooper sustained minor injuries after being struck by broken glass. As is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings, all involved ISP troopers have been placed on administrative leave.
In an update released today, April 22nd, the Whitley County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased individual as Christifer Debus, 38, of Fort Wayne. Debus was the subject of the pursuit and the subsequent officer-involved shooting. The results of the autopsy are pending, and the official cause of death has not yet been determined. The Whitley County Coroner’s Office, at (260) 244-2346, will release further information regarding the identification and cause of death as it becomes available.
The ISP investigation has also revealed that Debus fired at close range at an Indiana State Police trooper after the trooper attempted a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) to bring the pursuit to an end. The PIT maneuver involves controlled contact to spin the suspect vehicle and force it to stop.
The ongoing investigation will aim to determine which officers discharged their weapons and whether Debus’s death resulted from the officer-involved shooting or was self-inflicted. Upon completion, all findings will be submitted to the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Numerous agencies assisted in the incident, including Indiana State Police SWAT, Fort Wayne Police Department and its EST (SWAT) and ESU (Drone) teams, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, the Whitley County Coroner’s Office, and Parkview EMS.
The Indiana State Police is urging any individuals with questions related to the initial homicide investigation in Fort Wayne to contact the Fort Wayne Police Department directly. The ISP investigation into the officer-involved shooting remains active, and further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
