According to a report in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, in a tragic incident on Saturday night, 22-year-old Linzell Parhm was fatally shot by Fort Wayne police officer Mason N. Wills during a traffic stop. The event occurred around 10:30 p.m. at John and Hurd streets. Newly released video footage from the officer’s body camera provides a detailed account of the incident, which has left the community in mourning.
Parhm, a 2020 graduate of South Side High School and a licensed barber known for his volunteer work with local youth at the Euell Wilson Center, was in a vehicle that was stopped by Officer Wills. While the specific nature of the traffic violation remains undisclosed, the situation quickly escalated when Wills noticed a gun near the front seat passenger.
According to the video, Officer Wills repeatedly instructed Parhm to keep his hands on the dashboard, fearing for his safety. Despite these commands, Parhm reached toward the gun multiple times. The video shows Wills, using harsh language, warning Parhm before ultimately firing two shots.
Mayor Sharon Tucker announced the release of the video, stating it was made public after Parhm’s family had the chance to view it. The footage includes both real-time and slowed-down segments, highlighting Parhm’s movements before each shot.
The aftermath of the shooting saw emergency personnel recover a Draco AR pistol from the vehicle. The incident is now under both criminal and internal investigations and will be reviewed by the Allen County prosecutor’s office. The police department emphasized that conclusions about the officer’s actions will be made only after a thorough investigation.
Parhm’s family has engaged prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Indiana attorney Stephen Wagner to examine the circumstances of the shooting. Their legal team has raised questions about Officer Wills’ conduct during the traffic stop, particularly his decision to engage rather than de-escalate the situation.
The family has expressed gratitude for the community’s support but will refrain from commenting further until the investigation is complete. The police department has also released Officer Wills’ service record, which includes both commendations and disciplinary actions.
Wills, who has been with the department for seven years, received a suspension in 2019 for an inadequate search of a detainee and letters of reprimand for vehicle accidents in 2018 and 2021.
The timing of this release stands in stark contrast to the FWPD release of body camera footage in the shooting death of Dachena Warren-Hill. In that case, it took three months for the footage to be released. These two incidents are examples of why many in the state are requesting a standardization of regulations for the release of body camera footage.
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