Fort Wayne’s southeast side fell into quiet shock this week after 19-year-old Damion Lamarr Jacobs was found dead behind an apartment building on Holgate Drive. What was meant to be another ordinary evening for many in the city turned into heartbreak for a family, friends, and neighbors who now struggle to make sense of a life stolen too soon.
Police and medics were called to the 6100 block of Holgate Drive around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday after someone reported an unconscious man behind a building. First responders fought to save Jacobs, performing CPR on the ground with urgency and care, but his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Allen County Coroner’s Office later confirmed the young man’s identity and ruled that a gunshot wound was the cause of his death. The manner of death was officially classified as a homicide. Those few words carry a heavy weight — a life ended by another’s hand, and questions that now hang in the air over Holgate Drive.
Fort Wayne Police have said the investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives, crime scene technicians, and the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office are working together to piece together what happened that night. No arrests have been announced so far, and no official motive has been given. Law enforcement is urging anyone with information to come forward, offering several ways to share tips, including anonymous reporting tools.
Neighbors in the area spoke of a close-knit community that now feels unsettled. Some said they had seen Jacobs around town in recent days, describing him as quiet but friendly — the kind of young person with plans and potential, not someone destined for tragedy. Others expressed concern about rising gun violence and unanswered questions in city neighborhoods.
Family members, while still reeling from the loss, have asked the community for privacy and support as they grieve. Messages and floral tributes appeared near the scene in the days following his death, as classmates and relatives tried to comfort one another. Local residents have started talking about community meetings and remembrance events to honor Damion’s memory.
For now, Fort Wayne waits — for answers, for justice, and for some sense of peace. Anyone who might have seen something or knows more about what happened that night is urged to contact the Fort Wayne Police Department, Crime Stoppers, or submit a tip through the P3 Tips App. The hope is that with every shared memory or piece of information, the city can move a little closer to understanding this senseless loss.
