A man won’t be charged after fatally shooting a teen who opened fire at an Indiana high school party earlier this month — but the homeowner who allegedly allowed the party to happen has been arrested on felony charges.
Fort Wayne police on Monday arrested Joanna Eastes, 42, on charges of neglect of a dependent and furnishing property for the purpose of enabling minors to consume alcohol, both of which are felonies, WANE-TV reported. The station said Eastes also was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor, and was being held at the Allen County Jail.
Police told WPTA one partygoer returned fire with his own handgun — fatally shooting Ivy — and won’t face criminal charges ‘as his actions were justified under established Indiana self-defense law.’
WANE, citing Allen County property records, reported that Eastes is the owner of a home in the 4900 block of Manistee Drive where a group of mostly high schoolers met for an Oct. 19 party.
The Halloween party was advertised on social media, investigators told WPTA-TV, adding that partygoers were told to bring their own alcohol and marijuana — and were patted down for weapons before entering the home.
Police told WPTA the “party quickly got out of hand,” and the parent of a household member hosting the party “retreated to her bedroom and locked the door” without calling police about the situation.
When 17-year-old Willie Ivy III and his friends arrived at the party, police told WPTA they went to the back door to avoid being patted down and forced their way inside when a couple of attendees tried to stop them.
Ivy then pulled out a handgun and began firing shots as he walked through the back door, kitchen, and living room, police told WPTA.
Nine party attendees — ranging in age from 14 to 20 years old — were struck by bullets from Ivy’s gun, WPTA added. Their wounds reportedly weren’t life-threatening, WANE said.
Police told WPTA one partygoer returned fire with his own handgun — fatally shooting Ivy — and won’t face criminal charges “as his actions were justified under established Indiana self-defense law.” WPTA-TV said in its video report that the man who fatally shot Ivy was one of the victims wounded by Ivy’s shots.
Ivy — a student at North Side High School — was found in the yard of a home and was pronounced dead at the scene, WANE reported.
The following video news report about the fatal shooing aired prior to Eastes’ arrest:
– YouTube
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Alcohol and minors, Arrest, Fatal shooting, Fort wayne, High schoolers, Indiana, Neglect, Party, Self-defense, House party, Crime
