The elderly couple told police they had been duped out of thousands of dollars and that their Social Security checks were diverted to Georgia, which gave detectives their first real clue.An armed 18-year-old man shot by Fort Wayne police Saturday night is accused of pointing a stolen handgun at the officer pursuing him.
According to court papers, officer Anthony M. Shefferly stopped Micquail L. Thomas at Hanna and East Leith streets because he ran a stop sign on a moped and failed to signal a turn. Thomas stepped off the moped, and the officer began patting him down, court papers said.
Thomas was making “furtive movements” with his hands around his waist, and as the officer was having him put his hands on his head, he broke free of the officer’s grip and ran southwest through an open lot, court papers stated.
As Thomas ran, he “produced a handgun from his waistline, extended his arm and wielded it in arcing motion, then level towards Officer Shefferly,” court papers said.
The officer shot Thomas in the arm and buttocks, police said. Thomas fell, and nearby, police found his handgun loaded with one round, authorities said.
A check of the gun’s serial number showed that someone had reported it stolen to the Garrett Police Department, according to court papers.
Thomas was hospitalized in serious condition. He was later booked into the Allen County Jail, and he posted a $9,000 bond to be released.
Thomas, of the 6300 block of Holgate Drive, was preliminarily charged Wednesday with two misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement and three felonies: pointing a firearm at another person, criminal recklessness and receiving stolen property.
Police Chief Rusty York has said the shooting appears justified. Shefferly has been placed on paid administrative leave consistent with department policy, police said.
