John A. Benji Peterson was 19 when he was shot and killed in Fort Wayne on the night of March 26, 2021. A Bishop Luers High School graduate and a freshman basketball player at Manchester University, Peterson was stopped at a red light at Vance Avenue and Reed Road around 10:28 p.m. when a black Chevy Tahoe pulled up alongside. Shots were fired; Peterson suffered multiple gunshot wounds, managed to drive a short distance to Willard Drive, and then succumbed to his injuries. A passenger in Peterson’s car was uninjured and steered the vehicle to a stop.

The investigation continued for more than a year and a half before an arrest in November 2022. During a three-day trial in November 2025, prosecutors presented camera footage of the shooting, social media posts, distinctive clothing tied to the scene, testimony from a confidential informant about an admission, and other evidence described as showing premeditation and a motive related to disrespect. The jury returned convictions for murder and a firearm enhancement. Sentencing was scheduled for December 17, 2025.

If anyone knew John Peterson, his routines, or saw a black Chevy Tahoe near Vance Avenue and Reed Road on the night of March 26, 2021, please come forward with what you remember.