Nilan Joric Zyan Pearson, 23, was shot in the chest after a dispute at a house party in Fort Wayne on the night of December 11–12, 2023, and later died at a hospital. The party had been a birthday celebration where hosts had arranged a friend to pat down guests for weapons; nevertheless an 18-year-old guest, Charles S. Blair, brought a 9mm pistol into the gathering.

Pearson arrived unarmed around 1 a.m. on December 12. As the party wound down and some guests were being asked to leave, a confrontation moved outside to a car. Court testimony reported that Blair fired multiple times from the vehicle, striking Pearson, who ran to a nearby gas station for help before being taken to the hospital and succumbing to his injuries.

Blair was arrested later that day and was charged in connection with the shooting.