Threats, then guns: is it now the norm?

FORT WAYNE, Ind. ---It could have gone another way, if the bullets had hit their mark.

But as it is, the probable cause affidavit is scary enough.

Just before midnight July 10, Wyat Michael Prichard, 19, is accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend’s family members, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Allen County Sheriff’s Deputy Z. Filipiak. 

Kaleb Hein

One of those family members, Kaleb Hein, 22, told the officer he “grabbed his gun” when he learned about the threats and then, heard a motorcycle engine revving outside, court documents said.

Outside, Hein said he saw Prichard pointing a handgun at his kinfolk. A woman next door said Prichard pointed the handgun at her and her boyfriend before driving off. Her boyfriend threw a stick at Prichard, though a stick wouldn’t be much defense against a bullet.

Wyat Prichard

One of the potential victims showed the officer threats Prichard posted on Instagram on his girlfriend’s account.

It read: “U a dead n——a fr (laughing emojis)” and “I’m going to kill you and your family bc what’s wrong with y’all (laughing emoji,” court documents said.

Hein said Prichard was dating his niece. It was inferred that she was the one who warned Hein that Prichard was coming over with a gun. 

After Hein went outside to see Prichard threatening family members, he chased him through two trailers, court documents said.

Prichard was parked on Clinton Street nearby, Hein said, and was either pointing something at him or “flipping him off.” Hein said he couldn’t really tell what the gesture was and he didn’t want to take any chances.

Hein said he “blindly fired 11 rounds, but he wasn’t intentionally aiming at Wyat when he fired," court documents said.

Hein was charged with criminal recklessness, a Felony 5. Prichard was charged with two Level 6 felonies, one for intimidation and another for pointing a firearm at another person.

They both have scheduled court hearings in Allen Superior Court Tuesday.

Casual firearm use is common around the 4th of July and probably nearly every weekend of the calendar year. Last year in Allen County, there were 35 warrantless seizures of firearms due to Indiana’s red flag law that keeps individuals and potential victims safe, according to statistics found in Indiana Trial Court Statistics. Statewide there were 634.