‘Armed and dangerous:’ Shooting suspect sought

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Fort Wayne Police have asked for the public’s help to find a person of interest in a shooting last week that left one person dead and two others hurt.

Travon Rynell Fincher, a 21-year-old from Fort Wayne, has been named a person of interest in a shooting in the 800 block of Madison Street that happened just after 9 p.m. Aug. 30.

First responders arrived at a home in that block and found 40-year-old Ricky Pelmear dead inside. Two others who were able to flee the area were found outside by police, both suffering from gunshot wounds.

They have been identified as 41-year-old Jason Sandy and 33-year-old Rachel Burtz. They were taken to a hospital in critical and serious conditions. 

Police believe a disturbance took place inside the house, which led to shots being fired. All three victims were shot inside the house, police said.

At the scene, police said initial information indicated to officers a suspect may have been hiding inside a house in the area. In response, police blocked off the 800 block of Madison Street between Francis and Harmar Streets.

Police with SWAT gear determined the location to be safe, however, and a suspect was not found.

Police said Tuesday, then, that Fincher was being sought.

Fincher is described as a 6-foot-tall, 170 pound man with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen with dreadlocks, police said.

Police said Fincher should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about Fincher’s whereabouts is asked to contact police at 427-1222.