On February 24, 2016, 20-year-old Adam Mekki was found dead inside a house on Fort Wayne’s east side that was known locally as a place for gatherings. Mekki, described as a male of Sudanese descent and a Christian, died of multiple gunshot wounds in what authorities called an execution-style slaying. Two other residents of the house, 23-year-old Mohamedtaha Omar and 17-year-old Muhannad Tairab, were also found fatally shot.

Police said the victims came from families who had immigrated from East Africa and noted that two were Muslim while Mekki was Christian, but investigators did not believe the killings were a hate crime. The probe shifted toward other motives after officers learned the house had a reputation as a party house; the victims were not known to be involved in gang activity.

Investigators later arrested two 19-year-olds, Darrell L. McDaniel and Artavius G. Richards. Court testimony described an allegedly accidental single gunshot by McDaniel during a drug deal that escalated, and alleged that Richards then shot all three victims to eliminate witnesses. Richards was found guilty on three counts of murder and received a 190-year sentence. If anyone knew Adam or has information about that night, please share what can help the record.