A 44-year-old Fort Wayne man and a 38-year-old Chicago man are being jailed at the Allen County Jail for alleged involvement in the deadly shooting of an Indianapolis man over the weekend.
Johnny Ray Rowe and Donte Fitzpatrick have been charged with felony murder and attempted robbery. They are accused of being involved in a robbery that resulted in the death of Khiry Van Wilkens, 31, who was shot.
Before 6 p.m. on Saturday, police were summoned to Pemberton Drive, near East State Boulevard, for reports of a traffic incident involving two vehicles. When authorities arrived, they discovered Van Wilkens in a car, suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg.
He later died at a nearby hospital.
According to court records obtained by 21Investigates, Rowe was intended to be a getaway driver for Van Wilkens and Fitzpatrick, also known as “DT.”
Van Wilkens was reportedly attempting to rob a home where he had been invited to watch sports and gamble, court documents state. The resident indicated he knew Van Wilkens from his time in prison.
Witnesses said Van Wilkens was frequently looking at his phone and leaving for up to 30 minutes to visit a neighboring gas station prior to the shooting, according to court filings. When he got home, Van Wilkens allegedly held the man’s girlfriend while a second suspect, Fitzpatrick, entered with a gun and flashlight.
The witness informed police that he raced straight at Van Wilkens and Fitzpatrick, breaking free from his fiancée and running to their basement.
The man then claimed to have heard a single gunshot.
Rowe told police that he picked up Fitzpatrick on Saturday and met with Van Wilkens at a gas station, where the men spoke briefly before he drove them to the home where the heist was supposed to take place, according to court filings.
Rowe claims Fitzpatrick entered the house for approximately 30 seconds before jogging back out, getting into the car, and telling Rowe to “go, go, go,” according to court filings. Rowe told investigators Fitzpatrick claimed his friend was shot by “accident.”
Rowe said he knew Fitzpatrick from his time in prison.
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