Linzell Parhm Obituary, Death: Officer Who Shot, killed 22-year-old Man During Traffic Stop Identified By FWPD; The Fort Wayne Police Department has identified the officer involved in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Linzell Parhm during a traffic stop on Saturday. Officer Mason Wills, a seven-year veteran of the department, was named as the officer who shot Parhm near the intersection of John and Hurd Streets at approximately 10:30 p.m.
Officer Wills has a mixed record with the FWPD. He has received two letters of reprimand in his career, one in 2018 and another in 2021, both related to accidents while driving a squad car. However, he has also been commended for his service, receiving three letters of commendation—one in 2022 and two in 2023—and an award of excellence in 2023. Wills has been assigned to Fort Wayne’s southeast side since 2019 and is currently on administrative leave, as per department policy, following the shooting.
The FWPD stated that the shooting occurred due to “actions from occupants inside the vehicle [that] caused the officer to discharge their weapon.” A video circulating on social media shows a witness’s perspective of the incident, capturing the moments after Parhm was shot. The witness can be heard yelling, “You just shot him,” and expressing shock and disbelief at the situation.
In response to the shooting, protestors gathered at the Allen County Courthouse on Sunday, calling for justice and demanding the release of Officer Wills’s body camera footage. 21Investigates has filed a public records request to obtain this video.
A protest is scheduled for Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. to “demand an end to police brutality,” according to a flyer being shared on social media. The protest will focus on the “unjust execution” of Parhm, DaChe’na Warren-Hill, and “all overlooked FWPD victims.”
In a related case, prosecutors did not file charges against FWPD Officer Mark Guzman after reviewing the circumstances surrounding Warren-Hill’s death. The prosecutor’s office concluded that Guzman was justified in using force, as he reasonably believed it was necessary to prevent serious bodily injury or death to himself and/or others in the community.
The community remains on edge, with calls for transparency and accountability growing louder. The outcome of the investigations and the response to the demands for justice will be closely watched in the coming days.
