Gawon Kaerey Benson dies in fatal Purdue University Fort Wayne campus shooting
Fatal Purdue University Fort Wayne campus shooting death of Gawon Kaerey Benson – Obituary
A 31-year-old man, Gawon Kaerey Benson, was identified on Wednesday as the individual fatally shot by police on the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus.
The Allen County coroner’s office confirmed that Benson’s death, which occurred on Tuesday morning, was a result of multiple gunshot wounds and classified it as a homicide-police action.
Jeremy Webb, the public information officer for the Fort Wayne Police Department, confirmed in an email that Benson was shot by a member of the department.
As per protocol, the involved officer has been placed on administrative leave, though Webb noted that the officer’s identity had not yet been disclosed as of late Wednesday afternoon.
Benson’s death marks the 22nd homicide in Allen County this year, according to a news release from the coroner’s office.
The incident followed an extensive manhunt that included participation from both Purdue University Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne police, which led to the closure of the university campus and a shift to remote work for most staff.
Fort Wayne police stated that they were assisting DeKalb County Community Corrections in locating a man who had “failed to return to their custody.”
Court records indicate that Benson, who was from Fort Wayne, had several misdemeanor charges dating back to early 2023.
Just three weeks before his death, on July 10, he had been sentenced to 80 days in the DeKalb County Jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, which endangered a person.
Instead of serving time in jail, he was placed in the DeKalb County Community Corrections program with requirements, including completing an alcohol and drug treatment program.
On Tuesday, acting on a tip, local police initially searched an apartment complex near the university. Later, another tip led officers to locate Benson on the university campus along Coliseum Boulevard on the city’s north side.
A news release from Tuesday afternoon stated that Benson did not comply with police orders, though specific details regarding the number of officers present, the commands issued, and the number of times Benson was instructed to comply remain under investigation.
It is unclear whether body camera footage from the shooting will be released, as it is still “under active investigation,” according to Webb.
This follows a similar incident where body camera footage was released after a 22-year-old was fatally shot by police on June 22, following the circulation of a bystander’s video on social media.
An independent investigation into the circumstances of Benson’s death is expected to be conducted by Indiana State Police.
Additionally, the incident is being investigated by PFW police, Fort Wayne police, the coroner, and the county prosecutor’s offices.
This police-involved shooting at PFW was the first of two this week. In a separate incident, another man was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot by an officer while firing a gun during an incident on Chartwell Drive in southeast Fort Wayne.
Fatal Purdue University Fort Wayne campus shooting death of Gawon Kaerey Benson – Obituary A 31-year-old man, Gawon Kaerey Benson, was identified on Wednesday as the individual fatally shot by police on the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus. The Allen County coroner’s office confirmed that Benson’s death, which occurred on Tuesday morning, was a result…
Fatal Purdue University Fort Wayne campus shooting death of Gawon Kaerey Benson – Obituary A 31-year-old man, Gawon Kaerey Benson, was identified on Wednesday as the individual fatally shot by police on the Purdue University Fort Wayne campus. The Allen County coroner’s office confirmed that Benson’s death, which occurred on Tuesday morning, was a result…