Indiana homeowner charged after shooting ‘suspicious’ man trying to break into his home, various cars

An Indiana homeowner was charged for fatally shooting an unarmed “suspicious” man who was allegedly trying to enter his home and break into cars in his neighborhood.

Martell Pickens, 30, is facing charges of reckless homicide on Monday for allegedly shooting 25-year-old Khadolphee Taylor outside his Fort Wayne home on May 7, according to the Allen Superior Court.

Pickens told Fort Wayne police he was woken up around 2:45 a.m. and noticed a “suspicious” man walking around his neighborhood, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by WANE.

Pickens alleged that Taylor tried to break into various cars.

Surveillance footage from Pickens’ home showed Taylor attempting to break into the residence, which prompted Pickens to go outside armed with a Glock .45 caliber handgun to confront him, according to the affidavit.

Around the same time, a neighbor called 911 to report the activity.

“What are you doing?” Pickens was heard asking on the footage as he warned Taylor to “back up.”

Taylor then continued to advance towards him before Pickens shot him, according to the affidavit.

Officers found Taylor bleeding from a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was then rushed to a nearby hospital and was later pronounced dead.

Pickens admitted to police that he shot and killed Taylor, according to the affidavit.

Pickens also allegedly acknowledged that Taylor was unarmed and appeared to be under the influence before he shot him, court documents obtained by 21 Alive show.

Investigators later learned that about 20 minutes before the shooting, police had conducted a traffic stop involving Taylor.

Officers noted Taylor appeared to be intoxicated or mentally impaired, found he was driving with a suspended license, had his car towed and instructed him to walk home, according to the affidavit.

Months after investigators pieced together the full picture, Fort Wayne Police Detective Brian Martin laid out the case against Pickens.

“Based upon the investigation, Pickens knowingly armed himself and voluntarily exited the safety of his residence to confront Taylor,” Martin wrote in the affidavit obtained by WANE.

“During that confrontation, Pickens intentionally discharged a loaded firearm, striking Taylor in the chest and causing his death.”

Martin wrote that there was “probable cause to believe Pickens recklessly killed Khadolphee D. Taylor by engaging in conduct constituting a plain, conscious, and unjustifiable disregard of harm, the disregard involving a substantial deviation from acceptable standards of conduct.”

Pickens was arrested on Monday and booked into the Allen County Jail. He is being held without bond.

If convicted of reckless homicide, Pickens faces one to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Under Indiana’s “stand your ground” law, deadly force can be justified when a homeowner reasonably believes that force is necessary to defend themselves on their own property, according to Purdue Global Law School.