Attempted murder for shooting at pregnant wife leaving in an Uber

FORT WAYNE, Ind. --Imagine being the Uber driver during a morning run and you get shot at?

Imagine being pregnant and having your husband get out an AR-style short barrel gun as he watches you go by in that Uber and shoot at you?

Michael E. Ward, Jr.

That’s what happened April 17 somewhere in Fort Wayne when Michael E. Ward,Jr., 30, watched his wife pull away in an Uber as he sat in his 1996 tan Buick LeSabre parked at the side of the road, although the probable cause affidavit doesn’t say what road. In online court docs, his address is off Wells Street in 46808.

At 8:49 a.m., Ward delivered three shots to the Uber, a black Jeep Wrangler. The shots broke out the rear window and flattened the rear passenger side tire. Stuck in the rear passenger side wheel well trim was a bullet fragment.

Then Ward fled the area, court docs say.

His wife told police that several hours prior to the shooting, Ward said to her: “Fine. Then I’m going to get my gun and cash out.” She believed he meant he was going to kill her.

Court docs say he admitted to smoking weed. Neither Ward’s wife or the Uber driver were injured, court docs say.

Ward was charged with attempted murder, a Level 1 felony, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and unlawful carrying of a handgun. The probable cause written by Officer S. Atienzo indicates Ward was prohibited from carrying a gun because of a prior obstruction of justice case.

According to court docs, Ward has his initial hearing Wednesday, April 23.