Courtesy: Fort Wayne Police Department
(UPDATE: January 14, 2022):
We’re getting some more information about an officer-involved shooting in Fort Wayne.
Court documents explain that Thomas May had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit, had oxycodone in his system and was holding a loaded gun when an officer shot him in the groin last Friday.
Police say May was holding two women hostage at the time. May survived and is now facing charges. The officer-involved shooting is still under review.
Read more here
UPDATE (January 11, 2022):
Fort Wayne police released a statement on Monday identifying the officer involved in a shooting while responding to a call last Friday.
Officer Allissa Barnhorst responded to the 800 block of Lemonwood Court on Friday regarding a suicidal subject.
Police say the subject, identified as Thomas May, 36, came to the door and was armed. Police say May pointed the gun at Officer Barnhorst. A
statement says she gave verbal commands but May continued to come toward her before she fired her gun.
The following was issued by the FWPD:
The Fort Wayne Police Officer involved in the Police Action Shooting that occurred on 1/7/22 at approximately 7:40pm on the 800 block of Lemonwood Ct. regarding a disturbance involving suicide threats was Officer Allissa Barnhorst. Officer Barnhorst was
confronted by Thomas A. May who was armed with a gun and who pointed the gun at Officer Barnhorst and other occupants in the home. Officer Barnhorst gave repeated commands to drop the gun as she retreated from her assailant. Thomas May continued to advance towards Officer Barnhorst after she continued to give loud verbal commands to drop the gun. Officer Barnhorst fired one round as she continued to retreat from the residence, striking the Suspect. The Suspect, Thomas May was treated at a local hospital and released two days later and taken into custody.
As is Department protocol, Officer Barnhorst was placed on standard administrative leave to help cope with the traumatic incident as the investigation proceeds.
The FWPD says that Barnhorst has been an officer here for 11 years. Over those years, she has received letters of reprimand for two police vehicle accidents in 2012 and 2018, along with using “unreasonable force” in 2017, according to her personnel record. Officer Barnhorst was also suspended for an “unauthorized absence” in 2021.
ORIGINAL STORY (January 10, 2022):
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – A weekend shootout ended with a Fort Wayne man first going to the hospital, then to jail.
It started Friday night at a home on the city’s north side. Officers got a call about a domestic disturbance at 800 Lemonwood Ct.
When they arrived they say 36-year-old Thomas May met them at the door with a gun.
At some point, officers shot May. He was taken to the hospital and survived.
Fort Wayne Police arrested May Sunday when left the hospital.
He’s now facing multiple charges.
Initially, police released the following:
On January 7, 2022, Officers with the Fort Wayne Police Department responded to a house in the 800 block of Lemonwood Ct on the report of a disturbance involving suicide threats.
When Officers arrived on the scene, they made contact with an adult male subject armed with a handgun. Officer(s) fired, and the subject was injured. The subject was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
No Officers or bystanders were injured.
At this time, investigators are interviewing witnesses and persons involved in the incident, as well as collecting evidence at the scene.
The Indiana State Police will conduct a parallel investigation with the FWPD regarding the police action shooting.
The involved Officer(s) will be placed on standard administrative leave to allow the investigation to proceed and give them time to cope with the traumatic incident.
This incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Sunday, FWPD officials announced that the man involved had left the hospital and was now facing charges.
He was arrested on over a dozen offenses.
The following was released:
On January 9, 2022, the subject from the police action shooting on Lemonwood Ct. was released from the hospital and taken into custody.
Arrested:
Thomas A. May (Male/Adult/Age 36)
Preliminary Charges:
4 Counts – Pointing a loaded firearm (Level 6 Felony)
6 Counts – Criminal Recklessness with a deadly weapon (Level 6 Felony)
2 Counts – Intimidation (Level 5 Felony)
1 Count – Neglect of a Dependent (Level 6 Felony)
