close
close

FWPD releases bodycam footage of man being shot on PFW campus

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – The Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) has released edited bodycam footage detailing what led to the fatal shooting of a Fort Wayne man in July on the Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW) campus.

According to police, FWPD Officer Jason Fuhrman shot and killed 31-year-old Gawon Kaerey Benson on Tuesday, July 30.

FWPD Chief Scott Caudill says his department was contacted that morning by the DeKalb County Community Corrections Office requesting assistance in locating Benson, who allegedly failed to return to their custody in a drunken driving case.

After being notified that Benson might be armed and in the Fort Wayne area, police found him on the PFW campus near Kettler Circle and Campus Drive, according to FWPD. Officers said Benson did not respond to their commands when they approached him.

According to Caudill, dispatchers confirmed that Benson was indeed armed, and officers called for backup. They say that's when officers fired shots, striking and killing Benson.

Caudill says the shooting remains under investigation by the FWPD and that a parallel independent investigation is being conducted by the Indiana State Police, PFW Police Department, Allen County Coroner's Office and the Allen County District Attorney's Office.

21Investigates filed a motion to release bodycam footage in this case, but it was denied while the investigation was ongoing.

Now, three weeks after the shooting, FWPD spokesman Jeremy Webb has released an edited version of the bodycam video.

You can watch the fully edited video provided by FWPD below. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

The video shows at least six police officers at the scene. Benson can be seen ignoring the officers' instructions and then pulling out a gun.

Officer Fuhrman shot Benson after he ignored orders to drop his weapon.

According to Webb, a note found at the crime scene suggests that it was a “suicide by police officer scenario.”

RELATED: Indiana Public Access Counselor says FWPD policy on releasing bodycam footage is fair

A look at recent police shootings

In less than nine months, four people have been shot by Fort Wayne Police Department officers:

In February, the Allen County District Attorney's Office said there was no evidence of criminal liability in connection with the shooting of Warren-Hill.

All other recent police shootings remain under investigation.

REGARD: Local NAACP asks FWPD to “please stop using excessive force” after recent police shootings

Officer Fuhrman’s disciplinary history

On August 9, the FWPD released the disciplinary history and list of commendations for Officer Jason Fuhrman, who shot Benson.

Not included in his disciplinary report is his involvement in the shooting of Noah Busche in 2019. Court documents show that Officer Fuhrman shot and seriously injured Busche, then 19, during a foot chase.

Fuhrman said he saw a gun in Busche's pants and the teen charged at him, prompting him to fire his police weapon. However, court documents say no weapon was ever found at the scene.

In total, Officer Fuhrman is linked to four police shootings.

All rights reserved.

You may also like...