UPDATE (May 11, 2023):
Fort Wayne Police Department officials say an arrest was made in a woman’s fatal shooting on Lillie Street Tuesday night. Police found the woman, now identified as Kiera Zepke, in an alleyway.
Police said later on Wednesday that Steven Atkins was arrested for her murder. He is now in the Allen County jail on a count of Murder and a parole violation.
The FWPD released the following:
On May 10th, 2023 at 1508 hours, 38yo Steven Atkins, was taken into custody and arrested for the murder of Kiera Zepke on 5/9/2023. The Homicide Unit identified Atkins and were able to locate him in Fort Wayne. With the assistance of the Vice and Narcotics Unit, the Gang and Violent Crimes Unit and the Aerial Support Unit, Atkins was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Allen County Jail for the charge of Murder. The Fort Wayne Police Department was also assisted by the Digital Forensics Unit, Crime Scene Management, the Allen County Coroners Office and the Allen County Prosecutors Office.
The Allen County Coroner released the following:
The autopsy has been completed and notification has been made to the next of kin for the female victim that was found in the 1400 block of Lillie Street, in Fort Wayne, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at approximately 23:38 hours. The decedent was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Three Rivers Ambulance Authority.
The decedent has been positively identified as Kiera Erin Zepke female, White, 20 years of age from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Cause of Death has been determined to be Gunshot Wound of Chest and the Manner of Death is Homicide. Kiera Erin Zepke is the 11th Homicide for Fort Wayne and Allen County in 2023. The incident remains under investigation by the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Allen County Coroner’s Office.
Christopher Meihls Deputy Coroner Allen County Coroner’s Office
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Fort Wayne Police Department officials say a woman is dead following a Lillie Street shooting late Tuesday night.
It happened around 11:30 on the 1300 block of Lillie. Several people called 911 to report hearing gunshots before officers responded.
They found her behind a home suffering from a gunshot wound. Medics arrived soon after and pronounced her dead.
Anyone with information is asked to come forward.
The FWPD released the following:
On Tuesday, 05/09/2023, at approximately 11:38 PM, the City of Fort Wayne Police Department responded to the 1300 block of Lillie St regarding a shooting.
Dispatchers received several phone calls regarding hearing several shots in the area. Officers arrived and located a female adult victim suffering a gun shot wound. Medics arrived shortly afterwards and pronounced the female deceased. The shooting incident took place in the rear of the residence near an alley. Investigators are searching the area for witnesses.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Fort Wayne Police Department at 427-1201, Crime Stoppers at 436-7867, or use the free “P3 Tips” app.
This incident remains under investigation by the City of Fort Wayne Police Department, Allen County Coroner’s Office, and the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.