FWPD justified in shooting death outside Broadway Joe's

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Allen County Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday that the Fort Wayne police officer that shot and killed Antron Pearson at Broadway Joe’s in 2011 , was justified in his action.

Police were called to Broadway Joe’s, at 2514 Broadway, around 1:18 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 2011, on a report of shots fired.

When officers arrived, Joshua Franciscy found Pearson outside holding a pistol and refusing to put it down when asked.

Police Chief Rusty York said the early investigation appeared to confirm that Franciscy acted appropriately when he made the decision to shoot Pearson.

According to Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards, the investigation revealed that Pearson took a step back when speaking with Franciscy.  That move was indicative of an aggressive shooting stance to the officer.

In many past shootings involving a police officer, the suspect had pointed a gun directly at officers.  That did not happen in Pearson’s case which added to the need to investigate in order to justify Franciscy’s actions, Richards said.

Richards underwent a training exercise with the FWPD to better understand the environment Franciscy may have faced the night of the shooting.

“You have to figure out what this officer believes to be true at that given moment, take into consideration what their training is.  So, I gathered all of that together,” Richards said.

Franciscy was placed on administrative leave following the incident while the Fort Wayne Police Department and Indiana State Police conducted an investigation.

A review of that investigation by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office found that the officer was justified in his actions and determined that no charges will be filed against him.